A 29-year-old Ohio father died after an unlawfully present immigrant, licensed to drive by Connecticut, allegedly ran a stop sign and caused a fatal collision in Fulton County, sparking a fierce political confrontation between Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont over state immigration policies.

Fatal Collision in Rural Ohio

Washington Guillermo Naula-Ochoa, 34, was driving a 2024 Ram 3500 westbound on August 29 when he allegedly failed to yield at a stop sign on State Route 66, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol. His vehicle struck a 1993 GMC Suburban driven by Austin J. Karr Grimes, 29, of Fayette, Ohio. Grimes lost control, went partially off the roadway, and overturned. He suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers in Grimes’ vehicle sustained minor injuries.

EXCLUSIVE

The driver who kiIIed Austin Karr Grimes after running through a stop sign in Ohio is an ILLEGAL ALIEN from Ecuador, DHS confirmed to us.

Washington Naula Ochoa is now facing vehicular homicide charges.

Every. Single. Day.

Austin was a young father. RIP 🙏💔 pic.twitter.com/778jcMlU9T

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 2, 2026

Naula-Ochoa faces charges of vehicular manslaughter and failing to yield at a stop sign. His booking record at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio shows an immigration detainer lodged by federal authorities. Officials confirmed Naula-Ochoa, an Ecuadoran national, is listed as homeless.

Senator Demands Accountability From Connecticut

Senator Moreno sent a formal letter to Governor Lamont, connecting the fatal crash directly to Connecticut’s drive-only license program, which allows individuals without legal status or Social Security numbers to obtain driving privileges. Moreno wrote that Connecticut issued Naula-Ochoa a driver’s license despite his unlawful presence. The senator demanded Lamont immediately apologize and provide detailed records of how many such licenses have been issued, how many recipients have committed crimes, and whether any have been used to register voters.

Moreno criticized Connecticut’s policy of issuing over 60,000 licenses to unlawfully present individuals, calling it a threat to American safety. He also challenged Lamont’s 2024 proposal to remove drive-only markings from these licenses, arguing the change would make them indistinguishable from standard non-REAL ID licenses. Lamont’s office defended the proposal as protecting Connecticut residents from discrimination in other states.

Federal Immigration Response

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed an ICE detainer was placed on Naula-Ochoa following his arrest. A DHS spokesperson stated that lodging arrest detainers is the safest method to remove criminal individuals from American communities. The spokesperson emphasized that seven of the ten safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE enforcement efforts. Federal authorities made clear their position: unlawful entry combined with breaking American laws will result in arrest and deportation proceedings.

Broader Policy Implications

The confrontation highlights growing tensions between states over immigration enforcement and driver licensing policies. Connecticut’s program, supported by Lamont, aims to improve road safety by ensuring all drivers are tested and insured, regardless of immigration status. Critics like Moreno argue such policies enable unlawful presence and create interstate risks when licensed drivers from permissive states travel to others. The debate intensifies as families like Grimes’ mourn preventable losses attributed to policies they believe prioritize ideology over citizen safety.