Buckeye Reporter

New data confirms that traffic safety is on a steep decline in Springfield, Ohio, where local residents are pointing to the roughly 20,000 Haitian immigrants that have poured into town through the Biden-Harris Administration's Humanitarian Parole and Temporary Protected Status programs as the culprit. 

According to the New York Post, fatal car accidents in Springfield quadrupled in 2023, with overall traffic incidents that include injuries up 14 percent. Locals say the increase is connected to the Haitian population that is allegedly unfamiliar with driving on U.S. roads and associated laws. 

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has responded to citizens' concerns by increasing state patrol presence and aid to address traffic safety concerns. 

Additionally, in July, the Ohio Department of Public Safety through its Traffic Safety Office announced a new opportunity "to help English Language Learners become licensed drivers" through its statewide Train-the-Trainer program, according to a press release by the departments. The program enlists "participants" who live in "diverse language communities" to attend a training session, in English, and provides training materials "free of charge" that are designed to be presented in tandem with a translator, in-person or online, to foreign language speakers in their communities. 

Materials include the basics, like "understanding traffic signs, signals, and safety laws, sharing the road with others, and strategies for driving in inclement weather," according to the Ohio Traffic Safety Office website.  

While it's unclear whether the training program will have an impact on traffic safety issues, stories of roadway incidents involving uninsured and often unlicensed Haitian drivers continue to fuel concerns.  

In August 2023 Hermanio Joseph, 35, was charged with vehicular homicide following a school bus crash in Clark County that resulted in the death of 11-year-old student, Aiden Clark. 

Joseph's minivan struck the bus, causing it to overturn, and led to injuries for 23 other students, the bus driver, and himself.

In another case, Kathy Heaton, a local grandmother, was struck and killed by a Haitian driver while taking out her trash. 

A New York Post reporter also recounted witnessing just last week seeing a Haitian driver make an illegal turn and collide with a truck driven by Robyn Stultz, who, along with her autistic daughter, was not injured. 

In Haiti, there are only 11 cars per 1,000 people, which might explain why immigrants are having difficulties getting used to the roadways.  

Meanwhile, in the United States there are 900 cars per 1,000 people. 

The direct role Haitian drivers have played in rising car accident rates is unclear due to a lack of trackable data, however, Springfield residents have shared their direct experiences with Buckeye Reporter. 

“Maybe 4 or 5 of them over there in Haiti drives,” said Jeff Clos, a 49-year-old forklift operator and Springfield resident. “Well, you bring all these over here, the 25,000 that they brought over here. And now you tell me how you get a driver's license when you can't drive yet? Just watch our streets and you can plainly see it. How do you flip a car upside down on its top going 35 miles per hour? Something is wrong with this picture. Always big. That is some of what this money is supposed to go to, to help you get them driver's ed. Yeah. Give us translators so they can understand what's being said.” 

Democrat presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris previously discussed helping open around 50,000 slots to allow Haitian immigrants to enter the country under Temporary Protected Status, many of whom have headed to Springfield.  

“That is why also starting with our administration, we gave TPS temporary protected status to Haitian migrants 55,000. And then more recently, we extended temporary protected status to over 100,000 Haitian migrants for that very reason that they need support. They need protection,” Harris said in a video. 

However, many have said the Haitian population needs more support, like driver's education, if they are going to fit in locally. 

Jim Lagos, a 73-year-old attorney and property developer who has been instrumental in redeveloping buildings in Springfield’s area and has been active in the local business community for decades, confirmed that support is needed. 

“When I was 16 years old, my mother took me down to the AAA and there's a gentleman that was the executive director back then. Mr. Preston. So I took a week or two long driving training course with him, and I remember being yelled at by him every time I did something wrong,” Lagos said. 

Lagos said the experience made a lasting impression on him and that the Haitian community could benefit from similar training. 

“Because of that, frankly, I've never caused an accident,” he said. “And I'm now 73 years old and I've driven my life. You need driver training. And if you're in Ohio, you don't need driver training. If you take the driver's test, if you're over 18 years old, maybe we should change that. Maybe we should have a requirement that everybody has driver's training or whatever age before they can get a license.” 

In Ohio, the process for obtaining a driver's license is the same for immigrants as it is for citizens. Immigrants over 18 years-old must provide proof of legal residency, and immigration documents in the place of social security numbers, as is the case for U.S. citizens. No driver training is required, however passing a written test and behind the wheel "maneuverability test" is mandatory to get licensed.  

51-year-old Lori Clos said the roadways are horrible due to the increased number of accidents. 

“I get bad anxiety if I have to drive anywhere,” Lori Clos said. 

(Lori Clos) 

Haitian immigrant Maxon Toutoute, 47, said many Haitians arriving to Springfield may not be familiar with traffic laws in the United States. 

Tououte has been in the country since the mid-90s, much of which time he has spent in Florida. 

“Where they're coming from they're not used to this States, it is a different environment,” Toutoute said. “And then even with driving, they got to take all the tests. They got to do everything over. It's different. They may not understand the signs, I get it.” 

However, Tououte said what is happening in Springfield with the influx of immigrants is not that much different than what he has seen across the country and south Florida in particular. 

Sixteen year-old Springfield Joseph Dixon told Buckeye Reporter that his brother was in an accident caused by a Haitian driver. 

“They are horrible drivers. They ran into my brother literally, like three days ago,” Dixon said. 

Dixon added that the driver fled the scene afterward. 

“You know, it's crazy. A bunch of Haitians came outside and got the guy out of the car and brought them into their house so the cops couldn't get him. But they still ended up pressing charges,” Dixon said. 

(Joseph Dixon)

Kiel Gudorf, a 40-year-old home builder, also said his son was in an accident with a Haitian driver last year. 

“They're driving and getting in accidents with no license,” he said. "Our son got T-boned a year ago by one of them who drove away and we got screwed by our insurance because of them. Because they don't have insurance. So now it's on the people that pay insurance every day to handle this problem.” 

Gudorf said the result was a payout from his son's insurer that was lower than the remaining loan amount, resulting in financial hardship. 

“[Our insurance] went up and the value that we got for the vehicle that they destroyed was definitely lower,” he said. 

Gudorf recounted another recent accident involving a Haitian driver. 

“One of them just hit one of the fences yesterday over there by the cemetery, drove right through the fence and left their car and just walked away,” he said. 

Others have also advocated for driver’s education. 

“Driving schools for the Haitian community. I think that's a start. I like that start because you. Again you're just throwing these people [behind the wheel],” Lindsay Beekman said. 

Gudorf said he doesn’t feel the Haitian community nor the local politicians are helping the situation. 

“They need to be held accountable a little bit more different than us,” he said. “And it's not their fault. But we've been here. They're not. They need to come in a custom that we've all got 40 years to become accustomed to. They can't come in and expect better than us after 40 years or be in front of us when this is our town and our community.” 

Buckeye Reporter is following this developing story. Email news tips to news@buckeyereporter. 

(Kiel Gudorf and Lindsay Beekman)