Bernie Moreno

Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno is demanding an apology from Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont after a fatal crash involving an Ohio man.

The driver who allegedly caused the crash held a Connecticut-issued "drive-only" license, available to some undocumented immigrants.

Moreno criticized Connecticut's policy, while Lamont defended it as a public safety measure to ensure drivers are trained and insured.

Following the incident, Ohio Sen. Jon Husted called for a nationwide ban on issuing driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno has demanded an apology from Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont following a crash that killed a 29-year-old Ohio man.

Here are the details.

What Sen. Bernie Moreno said in letter to Conn. governor after fatal crash

In a letter sent to Lamont on Sept. 1, Moreno said Austin J. Karr Grimes, 29, was killed after a driver who held a Connecticut-issued drive-only license allegedly ran a stop sign. The "drive-only" driver's license is a type of license available to certain undocumented immigrants.

Moreno said Connecticut has issued about 60,700 drive-only licenses and argued the crash was preventable. "Quite frankly, your policies are killing my constituents," Moreno stated in the letter. Days later, Ohio Sen. Jon Husted called for a nationwide ban on licenses for undocumented immigrants.

What happened in the fatal traffic accident in Ohio?

Austin J. Karr Grimes was killed when a pickup truck driven by Perrysburg resident Washington G. Naula Ochoa, 34, allegedly failed to yield at a stop sign and struck Karr Grimes' SUV, causing it to overturn, according to WTOL 11.

Karr Grimes died at the scene, while two passengers in the SUV, including a 3-year-old, suffered minor injuries. Naula Ochoa's three passengers were not injured. The Ohio State Highway Patrol said seat belt use appears to have been a factor in the crash, though drugs and alcohol were not suspected.

Why is Moreno criticizing Lamont?

Moreno argued that Connecticut's roughly 60,700 drive-only licenses represent "nearly 61,000 additional opportunities for illegal aliens to harm and kill American citizens on our interstate highways."

Moreno also referenced Connecticut's Trust Act, which limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, calling it an "insane state law."

How did Lamont respond?

Lamont offered condolences to the victim's family but ultimately defended the program as a public safety measure.

"My heart goes out to the family and friends of Austin J. Karr Grimes, and to all families who lose a loved one to a motor vehicle accident," Lamont said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

He added that Connecticut's drive-only license program helps ensure drivers are trained, tested and insured, which he argued improves road safety and reduces hit-and-run crashes.

Moreno criticized this response on X, saying that "The answer to the presence of illegal aliens is NOT to 'train them' and allow them on our roads to wreak havoc. The answer is to DEPORT them!"

Moreno also asked Lamont to disclose how many undocumented immigrants have received Connecticut driver's licenses and whether any had used them to vote in U.S. elections.

Does Ohio require proof of legal status for a driver's license?

Yes. Ohio requires license applicants to show proof of lawful presence in the United States, and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles verifies immigration status before issuing or renewing a license, according to the agency.

Sen. Jon Husted calls for DOT, DHS to issue national ban on licenses for undocumented immigrants

Following the crash, Sen. Husted urged the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security to prohibit other states from issuing driver's licenses to people who cannot prove lawful immigration status.