Illegal immigrant trucker charged in crash that killed mom, 2 young sons heading to airport

A lorry driver has been charged after a crash in Kansas City, Missouri, killed a mother and her two young sons. Prosecutors allege his lorry struck a minivan as traffic slowed, setting off a chain-reaction collision; the case has also prompted scrutiny of how he was hired and licensed.

The victims were identified by their family as Olga Sorbalo, 35, and her sons, Samir, 4, and Luis, 8. Her husband and youngest child survived, while six other people were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Prosecutors allege the lorry was travelling at high speed and found no evidence its emergency brakes were applied; a tablet with YouTube open was found on the floor. The driver, Eldar Skander, 39, faces three counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, has a $150,000 bond and an ICE detainer. US officials say Illinois issued his non-domiciled commercial driving licence in March 2025, and a federal investigation is examining the employer and licensing process.