Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno has demanded an apology from Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont following a crash that killed a 29-year-old Ohio man.
Here are the details.
What Sen. Bernie Moreno said in letter to Conn. governor after fatal crash
In a letter sent to Lamont on Sept. 1, Moreno said Austin J. Karr Grimes, 29, was killed after a driver who held a Connecticut-issued drive-only license allegedly ran a stop sign. The "drive-only" driver's license is a type of license available to certain undocumented immigrants.
Moreno said Connecticut has issued about 60,700 drive-only licenses and argued the crash was preventable. "Quite frankly, your policies are killing my constituents," Moreno stated in the letter. Days later, Ohio Sen. Jon Husted called for a nationwide ban on licenses for undocumented immigrants.
My office has learned
that an illegal alien granted a drivers license by the state of Connecticut killed a 29 year old Ohioan in a reckless driving accident. While one death alone is an inexcusable tragedy, Connecticut has granted over 60,000 such licenses to illegal aliens,… pic.twitter.com/omXIUkM9OA
— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) September 2, 2026
What happened in the fatal traffic accident in Ohio?
Austin J. Karr Grimes was killed when a pickup truck driven by Perrysburg resident Washington G. Naula Ochoa, 34, allegedly failed to yield at a stop sign and struck Karr Grimes' SUV, causing it to overturn, according to WTOL 11.
Karr Grimes died at the scene, while two passengers in the SUV, including a 3-year-old, suffered minor injuries. Naula Ochoa's three passengers were not injured. The Ohio State Highway Patrol said seat belt use appears to have been a factor in the crash, though drugs and alcohol were not suspected.
Why is Moreno criticizing Lamont?
Moreno argued that Connecticut's roughly 60,700 drive-only licenses represent "nearly 61,000 additional opportunities for illegal aliens to harm and kill American citizens on our interstate highways."
Moreno also referenced Connecticut's Trust Act, which limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, calling it an "insane state law."
How did Lamont respond?
Lamont offered condolences to the victim's family but ultimately defended the program as a public safety measure.
"My heart goes out to the family and friends of Austin J. Karr Grimes, and to all families who lose a loved one to a motor vehicle accident," Lamont said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
He added that Connecticut's drive-only license program helps ensure drivers are trained, tested and insured, which he argued improves road safety and reduces hit-and-run crashes.
Moreno criticized this response on X, saying that "The answer to the presence of illegal aliens is NOT to 'train them' and allow them on our roads to wreak havoc. The answer is to DEPORT them!"
Moreno also asked Lamont to disclose how many undocumented immigrants have received Connecticut driver's licenses and whether any had used them to vote in U.S. elections.
Does Ohio require proof of legal status for a driver's license?
Yes. Ohio requires license applicants to show proof of lawful presence in the United States, and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles verifies immigration status before issuing or renewing a license, according to the agency.
Sen. Jon Husted calls for DOT, DHS to issue national ban on licenses for undocumented immigrants
Following the crash, Sen. Husted urged the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security to prohibit other states from issuing driver's licenses to people who cannot prove lawful immigration status.
Husted argued Ohio's requirement that applicants prove U.S. citizenship or lawful presence should become the national standard. In his letter, he called for measures that would bar licenses for undocumented immigrants and encourage states to identify noncitizens on licenses issued to lawful residents.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bernie Moreno demands apology from CT gov. after fatal traffic accident
