LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI — New details have emerged following the arrest of a Somali truck driver caught driving the wrong way on Highway 61 in Lincoln County, including that the driver failed a federal English proficiency test and could not identify a place of residence when speaking with officers through broken English.

On February 25, 2026, Abdiasis Ibrahim Ali was observed driving a white tractor-trailer southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 61 at an alarming rate of speed. A citizen who was nearly struck by the vehicle contacted law enforcement, and Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers responded and stopped the truck. A viral video of the incident circulated widely online, eventually being shared by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Ibrahim Ali was charged with driving the wrong direction on a divided highway and operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, and a no-bond arrest warrant was requested.

After pulling over the driver, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Dallas Thompson said troopers discovered the driver was unable to complete the English proficiency test required by the federal government to hold a commercial driver's license. "The driver was unable to complete the English proficiency test," Thompson said. "In Missouri, they have to be able to understand English, take the test in English, and pass the road sign test here." The driver's CDL, issued in Minnesota, was subsequently revoked.

The driver's company, Cargo Transportation LLC, is based in Hopkins, Minnesota. According to DOT records, the company operates two power units and two drivers. Calls to the company were not returned. The U.S. Department of Transportation has since opened an investigation into Cargo Transportation LLC.

The Lincoln County prosecutor noted that the wrong-way driving and careless driving citations represent the extent of what can be handled at the local level. However, due to the driver's inability to identify a place of residence, the prosecutor notified both the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety issued a statement saying it does not yet know the full facts of the case but confirmed that all CDL applicants in Minnesota must pass knowledge and behind-the-wheel testing in English. "We will wait to learn more from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association's investigation," the statement read.

Troy Dennis, driver training manager at Witte Bros. in Troy, Missouri, noted that road sign testing is a standard part of the CDL process. "You're going to get tested on road signs just to obtain your permit, just as you would in your car, just a little bit more extensive testing," Dennis said. He added, however, that training standards can vary significantly depending on where a driver is trained, noting that there is no minimum required hours to complete in order to obtain a CDL.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the incident "disturbing," adding, "We will not stop until America's roads are safe again for families." Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe also responded, thanking the highway patrol on social media. "Missourians agree with @secduffy – our roadways need to be safe and secure. Every state must ensure CDL holders are QUALIFIED," Kehoe wrote.

The DOT said that in the past year it has removed 11,500 drivers who failed to meet English proficiency standards and closed 7,500 CDL training schools that did not meet federal standards.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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