Fatal Accident Involving Uzbek Truck Driver and College Soccer Player

An Uzbek truck driver granted entry to the U.S. through a diversity visa lottery confessed to causing the death of a college soccer player in Ohio. Bekhzod Asrarov, 42, collided with a car on Interstate 71 in Madison County. The crash led to the death of Tobias “Toby” Forsythe, 21, a goalkeeper for the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

Upon arriving at the scene, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers noted Asrarov’s use of Google Translate for communication. Asrarov attempted to dismantle and destroy the dash camera, his three phones, and his logging device.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concerns about non-English speaking drivers managing large vehicles on U.S. roads, highlighting Asrarov’s situation as an example. The Ohio Department of Transportation was contacted by Fox News Digital for further comments.

Forsythe was an economics major at UMass Lowell, having joined the River Hawks in 2026 following his tenure at Ashland University and Shawnee State. UMass Lowell expressed deep sorrow over his death. “Our entire athletics department is heartbroken by Toby’s passing,” said Lynn Coutts, the university’s athletic director.

Head coach Kyle Zenoni praised Forsythe for his dedication, noting his relentless pursuit of improvement. Zenoni stated, “He never looked for shortcuts and never expected anything to be given to him.” The university plans to honor Forsythe’s legacy by following his example on the pitch.

There have been broader efforts to revoke the commercial driving licenses of immigrants not proficient in English. Recently, a Haitian national was charged in the death of a Pennsylvania State Police trooper during a vehicle inspection on Interstate 81.