According to Bekzhan's relatives, they could not even imagine that his name would be mentioned at a briefing in the White House, where he was labeled an illegal immigrant, the cause of the tragedy. Ruslan, Bekzhan's older brother, shared that their mother is suffering the most from this situation. Bekzhan is her youngest son, and she is currently going through a tough time, sources from Azattyk-Asia report.
“All of this resonates in society, and the negativity spreading on social media exacerbates our mother's condition. Bekzhan is her youngest child, and she is very worried about him. She has high blood pressure and cannot get out of bed. Everything happening and how it is interpreted online is extremely difficult for her,” Ruslan Koigeldiev, Bekzhan's brother, shared.
Ruslan also noted that Bekzhan always dreamed of living in America and moved there two years ago. He obtained a driver's license and got a job at a freight transportation company.
Two weeks ago, a tragedy occurred. Video from the dashcam shows Bekzhan driving on the highway when another car suddenly braked in front of his truck. Bekzhan did not have time to react and swerved into the oncoming lane to avoid a collision, where he crashed into a minibus.
As a result of the accident, three people died at the scene, and one more later in the hospital. Discussions began on social media about what might have happened to Bekzhan. Some talk about a distance violation, others suggest that he might have been distracted by his phone, while some claim that he could have fallen asleep at the wheel.
“The rumors that he supposedly fell asleep at the wheel are lies! — says Ruslan. — Company representatives confirmed that my brother drove only 600 miles in three days, so the version that he fell asleep at the wheel has no basis. Those who drive trucks know that 600 miles is not that much,” he emphasized.
After the accident, Bekzhan first ended up in the Jay County jail and was then transferred to an immigration center in Fort Wayne. U.S. authorities declared him an illegal immigrant, claiming that he crossed the border illegally through the CBP One app.
The incident became the topic of a briefing at the White House, where press secretary Caroline Levitt showed attendees photos of the Kyrgyzstani and stated that if the previous administration had not opened the borders, the tragedy could have been avoided.
This case, as noted by Kyrgyzstani workers in the U.S. freight transportation sector, has gone beyond criminal news and has become part of the political agenda in the U.S.
“The statement that the driver was an illegal immigrant is blatant misinformation. How can a driver be illegal if he has a status granted by the previous government? Illegal migrants cannot obtain commercial driver's licenses; it is impossible. And they understand this perfectly,” added Timur Tilenov, founder of a logistics company in the U.S.
What will happen next with Bekzhan Beishekeev is still unknown. His family reported that the Kyrgyzstan embassy, together with his employer, is looking for a lawyer, whose services require significant financial resources.
Kyrgyz diplomats assure that the matter is under their control.
Bekzhan Beishekeev's relatives are urging the Kyrgyz government to intervene and ensure an objective investigation into the traffic accident in the U.S.
