AUSTIN, TEXAS — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on April 28, 2026, that his office has opened a statewide investigation into five trucking schools accused of certifying unqualified commercial driver’s license holders — including non-English speakers — in violation of state and federal law.
The following schools have each been issued Civil Investigative Demands as part of the investigation:
• EP Texas Trucking School (EP Trucking) — locations in Odessa and El Paso
• Trucker Certified LLC — locations in Pampa, Amarillo, Plainview, and Borger
• Fast Track CDL LLC — located in Garland
• CDLCALL.COM LLC — located in San Antonio
• Lindenwood Education System (Ancora) — main office in Arlington
What Prompted the Investigation
Paxton said preliminary findings suggest the schools are disregarding federal requirements that CDL holders must be able to read and speak English sufficiently to understand traffic signs, converse with the general public, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records.
Among the specific concerns cited by the AG’s office: EP Trucking tells prospective students that English proficiency is not required to complete its program and advertises its services in Spanish. Several of the schools under investigation have also falsely claimed to be certified. Some programs advertise training timelines as short as approximately 20 days — well below the industry standard of three to seven weeks — which the AG’s office says indicates insufficient instruction and evaluation.
The AG’s office said these actions constitute violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and pose a significant risk to public safety. The schools also likely send graduates to trucking companies across the state, including major freight hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
“Putting non-English speakers behind the wheel of 18-wheelers in America can pose serious threats to public safety,” Paxton said. “My office is thoroughly investigating these trucking schools, and I am taking this matter very seriously. I will fight to ensure that Texans are safe and that only qualified, English-speaking truckers are operating commercial vehicles on our roads.”
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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LE GRAND, CALIFORNIA — Troopers with the California Highway Patrol’s Chowchilla River Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility are reminding commercial drivers to secure their loads after encountering a truck hauling equipment with loose cargo and zero tiedowns in place on April 27.
According to CHP, the driver was observed hauling equipment with chains, binders, dunnage, and boxed materials all free to shift or fall onto the roadway. “Remember: It only takes a second for unsecured cargo to become a deadly projectile,” troopers said. The violation can result in out-of-service orders, citations, and road hazards for other drivers.
Under FMCSA regulations 49 CFR §393.100 and §393.110, all cargo must be properly secured, immobilized to prevent shifting, and equipped with the required number of tiedowns.
The reminder comes at a particularly relevant time. During the CVSA International Roadcheck campaign running May 12-14, 2026 across North America, inspectors will be placing special emphasis on load securement violations as one of the two focus areas for this year’s blitz.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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CLARK COUNTY, OHIO — A Lexus passenger was transported to the hospital Sunday afternoon after multiple tires blew out on a semi-truck traveling nearby on Interstate 70 eastbound, sending debris into the Lexus windshield and passenger side before going underneath the vehicle.
Ohio State Highway Patrol responded at approximately 2 p.m. to a two-vehicle crash near mile marker 46. The semi-truck, operated by Maksym Rusnak, 25, of Sacramento, California, was traveling in the middle lane while a Lexus GS350 traveled in the left lane. Multiple tires on the semi’s trailer blew out. The debris struck the Lexus on the windshield and passenger side and then went underneath the vehicle. The Lexus navigated off the right side of the roadway and came to rest in the grass. No other injuries were reported.
The Lexus passenger was transported by medics to Mercy Health — Enon Primary Care with possible injuries. Rusnak was cited for operating an unsafe vehicle and found to be at fault for the crash.
I-70 eastbound lanes temporarily shut down during the investigation and cleanup, though traffic continued moving east on the left shoulder. The left and middle lanes reopened just after 3:15 p.m. All lanes fully cleared just before 4 p.m.
The crash remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
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DELAWARE COUNTY, INDIANA — The semi-truck driver who struck and killed Delaware County Sheriff’s Corporal Blake Reynolds while he was assisting a stranded motorist on Interstate 69 in November 2025 has been arrested, with court documents revealing he had been awake for more than 21 hours, was scrolling social media on his phone, and was physically fighting to stay awake in the moments before the fatal crash.
Teddy Johnson- Delaware County Jail
Teddy Johnson, 39, of New Haven, Indiana, was taken into custody Monday, April 27, by Indiana State Police troopers executing a sealed arrest warrant. A judge ordered Johnson held without bail pending further order of the court. His initial hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Delaware County. Johnson faces the following charges:
• Reckless Homicide — Level 5 Felony
• Involuntary Manslaughter — Level 5 Felony
• Failure to Change Lanes for an Authorized Emergency Vehicle — Level 6 Felony
• Reckless Operation of a Tractor-Trailer Combination — Class B Misdemeanor
What Court Documents Reveal
According to charging documents, dashcam footage from inside Johnson’s truck clearly showed the flashing red and blue emergency lights of Reynolds’ cruiser in the right lane. The left lane was completely clear of traffic. Johnson did not attempt to change lanes until less than one second before impact, at which point he was traveling approximately 61 mph.
Johnson was wearing headphones at the time of the crash and had a handheld device resting on his right thigh. An examination of the device showed he had been clicking and scrolling social media applications multiple times during the same period he was driving.
The dashcam also captured Johnson physically struggling to stay awake — touching his face repeatedly, stretching his arms, shifting in his seat, and keeping his eyes closed for extended periods. “He also caught himself falling asleep and shook his head back and forth as if he was trying to stay awake,” the documents stated.
Investigators determined Johnson had been awake for more than 21 hours before the crash, some of that time spent taking his son to and from a babysitter and preschool. When interviewed at the hospital following the crash, Johnson said he did not remember much. When asked if he had ever caught himself falling asleep at the wheel, he replied: “Not going to lie, I have before.”
Court documents also listed prior infractions, including multiple speeding citations, unsafe lane changes, and a citation in October 2024 in North Carolina for unlawfully passing an emergency or public service vehicle.
Corporal Blake Reynolds – Delaware County Sheriff’s Office
The Crash
The crash occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. on November 12, 2025, on northbound I-69 at mile marker 247 near Gaston. Reynolds, 31, had stopped to assist a Volvo semi-truck that was partially blocking the roadway after its trailer had partly slid off the truck. Reynolds was on the far side of the stopped trailer taking photographs when Johnson’s semi struck the back of Reynolds’ parked cruiser. Reynolds’ cruiser went flying off the road and Johnson’s semi then slammed into the back of the stopped trailer. The trailer struck Reynolds. Medics transported him to Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, where he was pronounced dead from blunt force injuries. Johnson was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for surgery.
WTHR
Reynolds had been with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office for four years, having joined in 2022 after serving in the Army Reserve. He was promoted to corporal and had married his wife Allison in June 2025.
Family and Officials Respond
Reynolds’ parents, Bruce Jr. and Melissa Reynolds, said they are grateful for the investigation that led to the arrest. “We are thankful for the investigation conducted by the Indiana State Police and the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office that led to the arrest of Teddy Johnson. We look forward to justice prevailing and being served for the careless and senseless death of our son. While we know nothing will ever bring Blake back or lessen the pain of losing him, we hope this process helps prevent another family from experiencing the same heartbreaking loss,” the family said in a statement.
Reynolds’ grandfather, Bruce Reynolds Sr., said the arrest brought some relief after months of waiting. “Relieved. For myself, relief, because it has been such a long period of time. The issue is you can never bring back Blake. Hopefully justice will be served, and this man will be taken off the streets, but it doesn’t bring back Blake. Blake was an outstanding individual. I couldn’t be more proud of him. We hope and pray that out of this tragedy, some good may come out of it. Maybe there will be some laws passed that will help prohibit something like this from happening again,” he said.
Delaware County Sheriff Tony Skinner said the arrest marks an important step. “This is just another step in the process of holding somebody accountable for this completely unnecessary and tragic loss. We’d hoped that today would come, and we’re glad it’s here. It doesn’t make the healing process any easier, but it gives us a little bit of satisfaction to know the process is still working,” Skinner said. He also remembered Reynolds fondly. “He was a great guy, great supervisor. Had an awesome potential here. Had a great future with the sheriff’s office.”
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement: “Corporal Reynolds was more than a deputy. He was a respected law enforcement officer, a dedicated public servant and a valued member of our Sheriff’s Office family. His loss continues to weigh heavily on this department and this community. While today’s development cannot undo the loss suffered by the Reynolds family or this department, it represents an important step toward accountability. We remain committed to standing with the Reynolds family and ensuring that Blake’s service and sacrifice are never forgotten.”
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Reynolds’ widow, Allison, filed a wrongful death lawsuit approximately three months after the crash against both semi-truck drivers involved, their employers, and the owners of one of the trucks. The lawsuit accuses the driver of the stopped truck of operating while fatigued, inattentive, and distracted, at an unreasonable speed, and off the paved portion of I-69. Johnson is accused in the lawsuit of operating while fatigued and distracted, failing to yield to emergency vehicles, and failing to brake or take evasive action.
Prairie Farms, the company whose truck struck Reynolds’ patrol vehicle, issued a statement expressing condolences and confirming full cooperation with investigators.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS — Emergency crews responded Monday morning after a Wayne Sanderson Farms 18-wheeler hauling 4,500 chickens rolled over at the intersection of FM 18966 and County Road 366 in Smith County, spilling chickens onto the roadway.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m. No injuries were reported. Wayne Sanderson Farms confirmed in a statement that the vehicle was a company-owned poultry transport truck involved in a single-vehicle crash. The cause remains under investigation.
All loose birds were humanely recovered and the truck has since been removed from the site.
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YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA — A fully loaded tractor-trailer broke in half and folded like a “V” on northbound Interstate 83 near the Route 30 East/Arsenal Road exit in York County Monday afternoon, closing the right lane and shoulder and backing up traffic three to four miles.
PennDOT reported the trailer needed to be offloaded before a tow truck could remove it from the scene. The road was expected to reopen around 8 p.m. Monday. It is unclear if anyone was injured.
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SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA — Emergency crews responded to Route 58 westbound in Suffolk Monday morning after a tractor-trailer’s fuel tank was damaged, spilling approximately 75 gallons of diesel fuel onto the roadway between the Wilroy Road and Godwin Boulevard exits.
City of Suffolk Department of Fire & Rescue
Suffolk Emergency Communications Dispatch Center dispatched the incident at 10:19 a.m. Suffolk Fire & Rescue and Suffolk Police arrived on scene at 10:30 a.m. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management and Suffolk Public Works were notified for cleanup operations and road closures.
Responding units included Battalion 1, Engine 4, Ladder 6, FM1, FM2, FM5, and Suffolk Police.
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CASPER, WYOMING — The two massive superloads that have been making their way across Wyoming since Sunday departed the Casper Port of Entry this morning and are currently en route to their final destination south of Gillette.
The loads left the Casper Port of Entry at approximately 9 a.m. Monday on the final leg of their journey, traveling northbound on I-25 to Highway 259, then onto Highway 387, and continuing on Highway 59 toward Gillette.
Wyoming Highway Patrol
Drivers on those routes should expect significant delays throughout the afternoon. The loads are traveling at 25 to 35 mph and slowing to 10 mph over bridges. Motorists are asked to give the trucks and their escorts plenty of room.
Background
The two superloads — each weighing close to 200,000 pounds and measuring 27 feet wide — began their Wyoming journey in Evanston on Sunday, April 26, traveling through WY 89, briefly into Utah, and back into Wyoming near US 30. They passed through Opal, Farson, and over South Pass before heading down US 287 to Muddy Gap and arriving in Casper Sunday evening, where they spent the night at the Port of Entry.
AMARILLO, TEXAS — A truck driver who punched a 77-year-old man during a road rage incident at a Love’s Truck Stop near Interstate 40 in Amarillo has been indicted on a felony charge that carries up to 10 years in prison.
Dennis Eugene Massengill was indicted by a Potter County grand jury on April 23, 2026, on a charge of injury to elderly — a third-degree felony in Texas carrying a punishment range of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. He has posted a $15,000 bond.
The incident occurred approximately a year ago at the Love’s Truck Stop near I-40 East and Whitaker Road. Amarillo police responded to a reported assault and found a 77-year-old man with injuries. Massengill identified himself to officers and told them the older man had cut him off before pulling into the truck stop parking lot in front of him. Massengill claimed the two exchanged words and that the victim threw the first punch.
However, Massengill provided officers with the SD card from his dashcam. The footage showed Massengill aggressively approaching the victim and throwing the first punch. Officers then went inside the store to review security footage, which corroborated what the dashcam showed. While officers were inside watching the footage, Massengill left the scene. Police later located him and booked him into county jail.
It is unclear whether the 77-year-old man was a motorist or another truck driver.
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DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO — The Columbus semi-truck driver charged with killing a family of three in a fiery construction zone pileup on Interstate 71 is now accused of more than three decades of identity fraud, with investigators alleging he fraudulently obtained his commercial driver’s license under a false identity — raising serious questions about how he was ever legally behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle.
The Crash
On April 11, 2026, Modou Ngom, 50, of Columbus, failed to stop for backed-up traffic in a construction zone on northbound I-71 near the U.S. Route 36 and State Route 37 interchange in Delaware County. His semi-truck slammed into several stopped vehicles from behind, triggering a nine-vehicle chain reaction. ODOT traffic camera footage obtained through a public records request shows the white semi crashing into slowly moving vehicles in the right lane, with at least one vehicle bursting into flames instantly on impact. The semi then drove into the median, pushing at least two vehicles with it.
Luke Soposki, 37, Lynnea Soposki, 36, and their 1-year-old child — all from Ashley, Ohio — were killed. All three were traveling together in a Chevrolet Silverado. Three other people were hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Ngom was arrested at the scene. He has since been indicted on three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and four counts of vehicular assault, all felonies. He has pleaded not guilty. He remains held in the Delaware County Jail.
30 Years of Alleged Identity Fraud
During the crash investigation, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Ohio State Highway Patrol investigators discovered conflicting information about Ngom’s identity in state and federal records. What followed was the uncovering of what authorities describe as more than 30 years of alleged identity fraud.
According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ngom appears to have entered the United States in the 1990s and soon began using multiple names and dates of birth to obtain state and federal identification. Evidence indicates he fraudulently obtained a new Ohio driver’s license around 2003 under an alternate identity. In 2007, he fraudulently obtained a commercial driver’s license under the same alternate identity. In the mid-2010s, he was naturalized as a U.S. citizen — also under that alternate identity. State records show he changed his name back to Modou Ngom in 2015.
Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson said he immediately directed state investigators to turn all findings over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio and the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office were also notified.
The identity fraud investigation raises a critical question that authorities have not yet answered publicly — whether Ngom would have ever been eligible for a CDL under his real identity, and whether the fraud allowed him to obtain credentials he otherwise could not have received.
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