Ohio College Student Dies After Being Struck on Interstate While Family Raises Concerns Over ICE Ankle Monitor

Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian American student at Wright State University in Ohio, died after being struck by a truck on Interstate 70 on August 31, 2026.

Bel was a freshman at Wright State University and had been wearing an electronic ankle monitor placed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, while his immigration proceedings were pending.

ICE confirmed that the agency fitted Bel with the monitor on July 29, 2026.

According to Bel’s family, the device had become a source of embarrassment and stigma for the young student. His relatives also said he experienced bullying and ridicule and that the monitor interfered with his ability to participate fully in activities he valued, including soccer and JROTC.

Bel’s father said his son had visited ICE offices in Cincinnati and Westerville in an effort to have the monitor removed.

On August 31, Bel walked onto Interstate 70 near Springfield, Ohio, where he was struck by a truck and killed.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Bel’s family believes that he died by suicide, but authorities have not established a definitive cause of death.

The family and their supporters have raised concerns about whether the immigration-monitoring requirements contributed to the circumstances leading to Bel’s death. However, there is currently no legally established finding that the ankle monitor directly caused his death.

ICE has said it will not speculate about the circumstances or cause of Bel’s death while the investigation remains ongoing.

Bel’s death has prompted renewed discussion among his loved ones and supporters about the emotional and social impact that immigration monitoring can have on young people facing uncertain legal circumstances.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death remains ongoing.

Source: ABC News