A Vancouver, Washington, mother and her two young sons were killed Monday, November 9, when a semi-truck slammed into their minivan in stopped traffic on U.S. Highway 71 in Kansas City, Missouri. Police identified the victims as Olga Sorbalo, 35, and her sons Luis, 8, and Samir, 4. Prosecutors have charged the semi driver, Eldar Skander, with three counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter. Court records say investigators found a tablet with a YouTube app open in the truck, though that does not establish what the driver was doing at the time of the crash.
The Kansas City semi crash on Monday afternoon turned a family trip home into a tragedy. Police say the family had been visiting relatives in Kansas City and were on their way to the airport to fly home when a white Volvo semi-truck struck their black Honda Odyssey from behind.
What Happened on Highway 71
The crash happened Monday afternoon, at about 3:15 p.m., on northbound U.S. Highway 71 near East 19th Street. According to Kansas City police, the semi driver failed to slow down or stop for congested traffic and hit the minivan, which set off a chain reaction involving other vehicles. A blue Honda CR-V, a black Ford Explorer and a white mail truck were also struck.
Seven people were in the minivan. Olga Sorbalo’s two sons died at the scene, and Olga later died at a hospital. Her husband and the couple’s baby were also in the vehicle and were seriously injured, according to reports citing WDAF-TV. In total, at least five other people were taken to hospitals with injuries, and the semi driver was treated for minor injuries.
The Driver Charged
On Tuesday, prosecutors charged Eldar Skander, the semi driver, with three counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter. Court records allege he was driving at a high rate of speed while traveling north. Police found an electronic tablet on the floor of the cab with a YouTube app still open, and the tablet also held the truck’s driving log. Investigators also recovered dash camera video from the cab. There were no signs the driver applied his emergency brakes.
Court records do not say whether the driver was watching or using YouTube at the time of the crash. Skander is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted in court.
Remembering Olga, Luis and Samir
WDAF-TV spoke with Olga’s brother, Samuel Cosovan, who described her as a devoted mother, wife and sister who loved to bake and brought positivity to those around her. A family friend who started a GoFundMe said the loss was “heartbreaking.” “The accident has left their entire family, relatives, friends and church community in deep sorrow,” he said.
A Fundraiser to Bring Them Home
Relatives are raising money to bring Olga and the boys back to Vancouver and to cover funeral and burial expenses. More than $140,000 had been raised by Tuesday, and one report says a fundraiser passed its $100,000 goal Tuesday night. The family continues to face the difficult task of bringing their loved ones home and arranging services.
Distracted Driving and Truck Safety
The case has drawn attention to the risks of distraction on the road. Federal rules restrict commercial truck drivers from using handheld mobile phones while driving, and rear-end crashes in congested traffic are among the situations where a few seconds of inattention can be deadly. Investigators have not said what caused the driver not to slow down, and that remains part of their inquiry.
What Comes Next
Prosecutors will present their case in court, and investigators will continue to review the dash camera video, the tablet and the truck’s records. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
