Inset top, left to right: Luke Soposki, Logan Soposki, Lynnea Soposki (Dimbleby Funeral Homes). Inset bottom: Modou Ngom (Delaware County (Ohio) Jail).
In the wake of a tragic pileup on a bustling Ohio highway, survivors and the families of the victims are holding a truck driver accountable, accusing him of inattention as traffic came to a halt. The driver now faces serious criminal charges.
The incident occurred on April 11, just before 6:30 p.m., when Modou Ngom, reportedly operating under the alias Lamine Gaye, allegedly caused a devastating chain-reaction crash. This collision resulted in the deaths of three family members and injured several others. Shortly thereafter, Ngom was indicted on three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and four counts of vehicular assault, all felony charges, as reported by CBS affiliate WBNS.
Authorities claim Ngom failed to stop as he approached congested traffic in a construction zone near the Tanger Outlets Columbus mall on I-71, close to the U.S. 36 and state Route 37 interchange. Traffic cameras reportedly captured several vehicles moving slowly in the far right lane. A white semi-truck was seen colliding with these vehicles, one of which immediately caught fire. The truck continued into the median, with at least two cars being pushed along by the impact, according to the WBNS report.
The crash involved a total of nine vehicles and claimed the lives of Luke Soposki, 37, and Lynnea Soposki, 36, along with their 1-year-old child, Logan. In response, the Soposki estate has initiated legal action against Ngom.
The lawsuit, filed by estate executor Vic Whitney, argues that Ngom’s actions displayed a “conscious disregard for the rights and safety” of others on the road, despite being aware of the “great possibility” of causing significant harm. The complaint alleges that Ngom’s negligence has inflicted “mental pain, grief, anguish, and emotional trauma” on the family members, effects that they will continue to endure.
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Another victim, Alyssa Harris, has also filed a lawsuit. She alleges that Ngom caused her and her family to experience “terror and conscious anguish, suffering and pain.” Her husband has also joined the lawsuit.
Officials said additional people were taken to nearby hospitals for serious, but not life-threatening injuries.
According to WBNS, authorities uncovered conflicting information related to Ngom’s identity in state and federal records. The Ohio Department of Public Safety says that evidence indicates Ngom used a fake name to get a new Ohio driver’s license around 2003, and, later, a commercial driver’s license in 2027.
He was reportedly naturalized as a U.S. citizen in the mid-2010s under the same alternate identity before apparently changing his name back to Modou Ngom in 2015, Ohio officials said.
Ngom’s bond was set at $500,000 and records indicate he is still at the Delaware County jail.
