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Kenyan truck driver jailed for six years in US over fatal New Jersey road crash
Kenyan truck driver Joseph Nyandwaro has been jailed for six years in the United States after admitting to deliberately causing a fatal crash on the New Jersey Turnpike.
What you need to know:
- Mr Nyandwaro was driving a tractor-trailer on June 22, 2025, when his vehicle collided with another tractor-trailer.
- He later pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
A Kenyan truck driver living in Texas, United States, has been sentenced to prison after admitting to deliberately causing a fatal crash on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Joseph Nyandwaro, 41, originally from Kisii and a resident of Pearland, Texas, was sentenced to six years in state prison by Gloucester County Superior Court Judge William Ziegler in January 2026, following a plea agreement.
Mr Nyandwaro pleaded guilty in December 2025 to charges stemming from the incident.
Witness testimonies
“Nyandwaro pled guilty to the charge in December,” the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement dated January 30, 2026.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, Mr Nyandwaro was driving a tractor-trailer in Woolwich Township on June 22, 2025, when his vehicle collided with another tractor-trailer. The second vehicle veered into a concrete barrier, resulting in the death of its driver.
Investigators cited witness testimonies and dashcam footage that allegedly showed Mr Nyandwaro laughing after the collision as he drove away from the scene.
Mr Nyandwaro later pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. He also faces a charge of fourth-degree tampering with evidence in relation to the incident.
On that fateful day, Mr Nyandwaro was travelling northbound along the Turnpike in Woolwich Township when his truck rammed into another tractor-trailer.
The impact forced the second vehicle into a concrete barrier on the left side of the highway, killing its driver. The victim was identified as Osman Aden, 40, of Minnesota.
Authorities said the circumstances of the crash raised serious legal questions, including potential civil liability, wrongful death claims and compensation under New Jersey law.
Fled the scene
Truck accidents on the New Jersey Turnpike are considered among the most severe due to high traffic speeds, heavy commercial vehicle volume, the sheer size and weight of trucks and limited reaction time.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation reports that commercial vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of catastrophic and fatal injuries on the state’s highways. When such accidents result in death, legal and insurance matters are often significantly more complex than in standard motor vehicle cases.
Mr Nyandwaro fled the scene after the crash but was later traced with the assistance of the trucking company that employed him. State police located the truck, which appeared to have been painted in an attempt to alter its appearance.
Investigators were ultimately able to identify the vehicle using dashcam footage from the victim’s truck, alongside information provided by Mr Nyandwaro’s employer.
“With the assistance of the trucking company, New Jersey State Troopers were able to locate Nyandwaro’s truck, which appeared to have been painted to alter its appearance. Video recorded by the vehicle depicted Nyandwaro crashing into the victim’s truck, sending the second vehicle into the left concrete barrier,” the prosecutor’s office reported.
“The tractor-trailer driver was seen on dashboard video laughing inside his truck as he left the scene,” New Jersey State Police said in court documents, describing the incident as a suspected case of road rage.
Prosecutor Andrew Johns commended the New Jersey State Police for the investigation that led to Mr Nyandwaro’s guilty plea and sentencing. The State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Jonathan Gilmore.
