Columbus Truck Driver Charged in Fatal I-71 Crash

Modou Ngom had no serious criminal history prior to the deadly collision that killed a family of three.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:05am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up of a shattered car sensor lens reflecting a faint red light, conceptually representing the aftermath of a deadly commercial vehicle collision.The fiery, fatal crash on I-71 exposes the risks posed by distracted or negligent commercial truck drivers on Ohio's highways.Columbus Today

Modou F. Ngom, a 50-year-old Columbus man, has been charged with three counts of aggravated vehicular manslaughter after his 2006 Freightliner tractor-trailer failed to stop in a construction zone on Interstate 71, resulting in a fatal nine-vehicle crash that killed a veterinarian, her husband, and their 1-year-old child. While Ngom had no significant criminal record beyond minor traffic violations, authorities are now investigating the incident.

Why it matters

The deadly crash on I-71 has raised concerns about commercial vehicle safety and the oversight of truck drivers in Ohio. The incident highlights the potential risks posed by distracted or negligent commercial operators on the state's highways, especially in construction zones where traffic patterns can change rapidly.

The details

According to reports, on April 11, Ngom's tractor-trailer failed to stop as it approached a traffic backup in a construction zone, leading to a chain-reaction collision involving nine vehicles. The crash killed Lynnea Soposki, 36, a veterinarian, her husband Luke Soposki, 37, and their 1-year-old son Logan. Three other people were also injured in the incident, which shut down I-71 for several hours. Ngom, the owner of a small trucking company called M F W Carrier, had been cited for driving an unsafe vehicle in a previous incident in 2024, but was not found at fault in a weather-related crash in 2025.

  • On April 11, 2026, the fatal crash occurred on Interstate 71 near the U.S. 36 and State Route 37 interchange at 6:27 p.m.
  • On May 31, 2024, Ngom was ticketed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol for driving an unsafe vehicle.
  • In April 2025, Ngom was involved in a weather-related crash while driving a tractor-trailer, but was not cited.

The players

Modou F. Ngom

A 50-year-old Columbus man who was the owner and sole driver of M F W Carrier, an interstate trucking company.

Lynnea Soposki

A 36-year-old veterinarian at Muirfield Animal Hospital in Dublin, Ohio, who was killed in the crash.

Luke Soposki

The 37-year-old husband of Lynnea Soposki, who was also killed in the crash.

Logan Soposki

The 1-year-old son of Lynnea and Luke Soposki, who died in the crash.

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

The state agency responsible for regulating commercial transportation services, including interstate and intrastate motor carriers, which has launched an investigation into the fatal crash.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's Motor Carrier Enforcement Transportation Department is continuing its investigation into the crash, and Modou Ngom is scheduled to appear in court on April 21, though he could be indicted by a grand jury before that date.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the need for stricter oversight and enforcement of commercial vehicle safety regulations in Ohio, especially in high-risk areas like construction zones, to prevent similar devastating crashes from occurring in the future.