3 killed as truck driver hits stopped vehicles on U.S. 71

KANSAS CITY, Mo. A truck driver is accused of killing a mother and her two sons when his semi-truck struck three stopped vehicles on a highway Tuesday afternoon.

Eldar Skander, 39, was charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter. The victims are Olga Sorbalo, 35, and her sons, 9-year-old Luis Sorbalo and 6-year-old Samir Sorbalo. Court documents state the crash occurred around 3:20 p.m. on northbound U.S. 71. Allegations say Skander was driving at high speed when the truck hit the vehicles, which were stopped on the roadway.

Authorities told reporters the families were heading to the airport. A preliminary investigation found no signs that the truck’s emergency brakes had been applied. An officer found a tablet on the truck’s floorboard open to a YouTube page. The device contained the truck’s driving log, and a dash camera may have recorded the impact.

Skander is currently held at the Jackson County Detention Center. Jail records show an additional hold for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A Wednesday statement from ICE identified Skander as an undocumented immigrant from Ukraine. His address in the court filing lists him as a Chicago resident.

Officials are reviewing the dash camera footage and the driving log. The case is scheduled for further review in Jackson County court.