Photo courtesy UMass Lowell Athletics

The tragic July 5 accident that took the life of a UMass Lowell Soccer player is garnering national attention, with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy weighing in on the story.

Tobias “Toby” Forsythe, an economics major at UML, was killed Sunday when a semi-truck driven by Bekhzod Asrarov slammed into his car on I-71 in his home state of Ohio.

Fox News and the New York Post report Asrarov entered the United States during the Biden administration in 2024 via the diversity visa lottery program. He was granted a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) by the state of Ohio.

According to charging documents, the semi-trailer that rear-ended Forsythe’s car drove through a median cable barrier, crossed the median and drove into the northbound lanes of I-71.

In an X (Twitter) post, Transportation Secretary Duffy stated the driver failed an English proficiency test administered by Ohio State Troopers who arrived on the scene, necessitating the use of Google Translate in order to communicate.

Duffy also wrote that Asrarov ripped the dash camera off his vehicle and tried hiding it in his pocket.

Fox News reports he also tried to smash and destroy his three phones and his logging device.

“We cannot let truckers like Asrarov, who can’t read our road signs or speak to law enforcement, drive 80,000-pound rigs on America’s highways,” Duffy wrote on X. “I am praying for Toby’s family and loved ones after this horrible loss. We will never stop fighting to keep these dangerous truck drivers OFF THE ROAD so no other parents have to endure this unimaginable grief.”

ABC6 in Ohio reports Forsythe, a 21-year old from Gahanna, Ohio, was working as a lifeguard this summer at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Our entire athletics department is heartbroken by Toby’s passing,” said Director of Athletics Lynn Coutts in a statement released on the UMass Lowell Athletics website Monday. “Although Toby’s time as a River Hawk was cut far too short, he left a meaningful impact and will always be remembered as a cherished member of our UMass Lowell family. We send our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones, and we are committed to supporting our student-athletes and staff as we mourn this tremendous loss together.”

“Today, our River Hawk team is grieving the loss of one of our own,” said Head Coach Kyle Zenoni. “Toby was everything you hope for in a student-athlete and an even better person. He was humble, honest, selfless and the definition of hard work. Every single day, he showed up ready to compete, improve and do whatever was asked of him. He never looked for shortcuts and never expected anything to be given to him – he simply wanted the opportunity to earn it. Our hearts are with Toby’s family, friends, teammates and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. We will forever be grateful that Toby was part of our River Hawk family and we will honor his memory by carrying forward the example he set.”

UMass Lowell has made counseling services available to assist those who need them during this time of unimaginable loss.