Uzbek trucker who can't speak English charged with killing UMass soccer star, came to US under Biden's diversity visa scheme

An Uzbek truck driver who allegedly could not speak English and reportedly failed his English-language proficiency test has been charged following a crash that killed a rising college soccer player, renewing scrutiny over commercial driver licensing and federal trucking regulations.

Bekhzod Asrarov, 42, is accused of rear-ending a vehicle on Interstate 71 in Madison County, Ohio, on July 5, killing 21-year-old Tobias Christopher Forsythe, a goalkeeper for the University of Massachusetts Lowell men's soccer team. According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Asrarov entered the United States under the Biden administration's Diversity Visa Lottery Program in 2024 before obtaining an Ohio commercial driver's license (CDL). Federal regulations require CDL holders to be able to read and speak English sufficiently to converse with the public, understand traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and complete required reports.

Authorities have charged Asrarov with tampering with evidence, after he removed his truck's dash camera after the collision. "He ripped out his dash cam and hid it in his pocket," Duffy wrote on X. Duffy confirmed that the driver had "failed his English language proficiency test" and that Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers had to use Google Translate to communicate with him following the crash. "We cannot let truckers like Asrarov, who can't read our road signs or speak to law enforcement, drive 80,000-pound rigs on America's highways," Duffy said. "I am praying for Toby's family and loved ones after this horrible loss. We will never stop fighting to keep these dangerous truck drivers OFF THE ROAD so no other parents have to endure this unimaginable grief."

The Ohio State Highway Patrol stated that the traffic portion of the investigation into the fatal crash is still active. Investigators are currently analyzing his electronic logging device (ELD) and three seized cell phones to see if he was speeding, texting, or violating federal driving-hour limits. The victim was an economics major and standout goalkeeper who transferred to UMass Lowell after previously playing at Ashland University and Shawnee State University, where he started all 17 matches during the 2025 season. UMass Lowell head coach Kyle Zenoni said Forsyth "was humble, honest, selfless, and the definition of hard work."