A man identified by officials as Broko Stankovic, an illegal immigrant, has been arrested and charged with felony reckless homicide and felony criminal recklessness resulting in death following a fatal semi-truck crash on U.S. Highway 20 in Portage, Indiana, last Wednesday.
According to the Portage Police Department, the collision occurred when traffic had slowed or stopped near Douglas Drive due to a Ram Sprinter van making a turn. Authorities allege that Stankovic, driving a semi-truck, failed to slow down. He reportedly attempted an abrupt evasive left turn, crossing into opposite traffic and colliding with a Subaru Crosstrek.
The impact caused the semi-truck to jackknife, subsequently hitting the Ram Sprinter, which was then pushed into a road sign. Police confirmed that the 54-year-old driver of the Subaru died at the scene as a result of the crash.
Suspended License and Immigration Status
Further investigation by officials revealed that Stankovic was driving without a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Police stated he was allegedly using a suspended Illinois CDL belonging to a family member. Furthermore, his company was reportedly not registered with the Department of Transportation.
READ: Man Shot Dead After Groping Customer, Unleashing Violent Rampage In California Store
Due to Stankovic’s immigration status, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a detainer on him as he was being transported to the Porter County Jail.
Images released by the Portage Police Department and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office show Stankovic and the scene of the crash, which occurred on U.S. Highway 20 near Douglas Drive.
The crash and Stankovic’s charges come amid heightened scrutiny on the employment and licensing of illegal immigrants in the commercial trucking industry in other parts of the country, following similar high-profile incidents.
READ: Three Haitian Immigrants From Indiana Identified In Florida Fatal Trucker U-Turn Crash
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
