Alegislative battle has been taking place recently in Little Rock, Arkansas, between two organizations in the same industry over an issue that has ramifications for all of North America, and President Donald Trump’s commitment to Make America Great Again.
On one side are representatives of small- and medium-sized trucking companies and the drivers they employ, and on the other, a state-level affiliate of one of America’s most powerful lobbying organizations, whose name doesn’t really tell the full tale of whose interests they represent. Though the fight in Little Rock is over a piece of state legislation, the issue being fought over has international ramifications, and is likewise of extreme import to the safety of the motoring public everywhere, as well as the wages of one of America’s largest groups of workers.
A recent tragedy in Austin, Texas, has brought the debate over these competing pieces of legislation in Arkansas into sharp relief.
On the night of Thursday, March 13, 2025, along interstate 35 in Austin, Texas, five people were killed and 11 sent to hospital when Solomun Weldekeal-Araya crashed the tractor trailer unit he was driving into stopped traffic. Amongst the dead were the entire López family—mother Natalia, father Sergio, and the children Lylah and little Diego, an infant. Araya was working for a subcontractor to Amazon, and, according to eyewitnesses, he did not slow down at all, and it took him colliding with 17 vehicles before the semi he was driving came to a stop.
Investigations into Araya reveal some disturbing resonances with many other incidents that have been taking place all across American (and Canadian) roads. Araya is a recent migrant from Ethiopia, only had his license for four months, and in that time had racked up a serious speeding ticket and a number of Hours of Service Violations. A viral video of Araya exiting his rig immediately after the crash suggested intoxication; although he was later cleared of being drunk or on drugs, the HOS violations indicate he may have been delirious from fatigue.
Though investigations are ongoing, there’s enough evidence here to suggest yet another in a pattern of horrific crashes we have seen in America—a recent migrant or refugee, legal or illegal, is involved in a collision which kills one or many people. It is later found that they either didn’t speak English, were not trained properly, had no work authorization, were involved in some kind of indentured servitude arrangement, or had already been deported multiple times.
Take the case of Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, who crashed his truck in Colorado and, in losing the load of steel tubing from the flatbed he was pulling, instantly killed Scott Miller, 64, who coincidentally enough was a truck driver on his way home from work. Cruz-Mendoza was in the country illegally from Mexico, and had already been deported 16 times.
He has since been taken into custody by ICE after release from a very short 364 day sentence for this incident.
Hellbound and Down 