Somali Trucker Caught Driving Wrong Way Could Not Read Road Signs, Speak English

The truck driver who was caught driving on the wrong side of the road near Troy, Missouri has been identified as a Minnesota-based, Somali driver who could not properly read road signs or speak English proficiently.

The viral incident, which was captured on video by a passing motorist along U.S. Highway 61, shows an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer driving southbound in the northbound lane. The incident took place near Troy, Missouri, located about 50 miles northwest of St. Louis.

The truck, weighing an estimated 80 tons when loaded, traveled at a high speed for about three miles, narrowly avoiding head-on collisions with oncoming traffic. A citizen who nearly collided with the truck pulled over, contacted law enforcement, and followed the vehicle while recording the now viral footage.

Officers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol then responded and stopped the truck after it crossed the median to the correct side of the road. Thankfully, no injuries or collisions were reported in connection with the incident.

The driver was identified as Abdiasis Ibrahim Ali, a Somali-born Minnesota resident who was issued a commercial drivers license (CDL) by the state. His immigration status has not been publicly disclosed as illegal or undocumented as of this report, though U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified as part of the ongoing investigation, alongside the U.S. Department of Transportation.

During the traffic stop, troopers determined that Ali was unable to speak proficient English and failed a Highway Traffic Sign Assessment, indicating he could not adequately read or comprehend basic road signs. As a result, he was placed out of service, meaning he was prohibited from continuing to drive the vehicle.

His co-driver, Abdulahi Abshir Alim, who was resting in the sleeper berth at the time, assumed control of the truck. Both individuals’ CDLs and the trucking company are based in Minnesota, and federal reviews of logbooks and toxicology tests are ongoing, according to a report from the New York Post.

Criminal charges have been filed against Ali by the Lincoln County Prosecutor’s Office. He currently faces misdemeanor counts of driving in the wrong direction on a divided highway and operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner.

A no-bond warrant for his arrest was requested, though he was not immediately taken into custody at the scene. The investigation remains active, with involvement from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to examine compliance with federal safety standards.

“Wrong-way incidents at highway speeds often end in fatalities. It’s fortunate that no one was killed,” a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Transportation said in a statement, adding that the event constituted a “clear violation of federal safety standards.”

Federal regulations mandate that drivers demonstrate English competency to read signs and communicate with inspectors, though enforcement varies by state. The Transportation Department has threatened to withhold funding from multiple Democrat-controlled states, including California, over the issuance of CDL’s to foreign nationals who fail to meet requirements and illegal aliens.

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