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.
The Connecute Governor shoud be ashamed and pay all families lives affected by these scumbags illegalls in US. ALL Democrats should pay back for illegals thay let in especailly BIDEN. Take his pension away for the families he helped to destroY!!!!!!
Exactly !!!!! Right on statement. Thank you for the truth.
Simple fix: NO license issued by the state of Connecticut should be honored in any other state. If they are stopped for ANY reason and present a license from Connecticut, it should be treated as driving without a valid license.
What a horrendous event thanks to another criminal.
Much thanks to Ohio’s governor for taking a stand against these illegal actions perpetrated by the connecticut governor.
Condolences to the family.
All licenses issued to non US citizens in all states should be revoked as well as all Medicaid type services except for life saving emergency treatment.
Connecticut should have to pay Austin’s family the amount of his projected salary until age 65 PLUS 100% of his projected Social Security, vehicle and a HUGE settlement for pain and suffering.
How is the guy homeless and driving a 2024 Ram 3500 seriously WTF
You stupid Dumbocraps
That is what I was thinking. was driving a 50 to70 thousand dollar truck but is homeless?
It is unfortunate that it takes an incident like this to make us aware of of the ridiculous policies of the democratic party. We need to return to our basic principles of this nation and restore our country to its roots.
New York State Clown Governor Hochul does the same thing and there have been so many fatal wrong way crashes and it is because, they cannot understand the signs, do not speak the language and do not care as everything, is free! Section 8 to the illegals and nothing to the Veterans who are homeless. If it wasn’t for Tunnel to Towers more Vets would remain homeless.