Springfield, Ohio – The community is grieving the loss of Pierre Damas Bel, a 20‑year‑old honors student at Wright State University who was killed on Monday when a semi‑truck struck him on the westbound lanes of I‑70 after he stepped onto the highway from the shoulder.
Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed that Bel’s vehicle was parked on the right shoulder before he entered the traffic lane and was hit. He died at the scene. Wright State President Sue Edwards called the loss “devastating,” noting that Bel was an active student who loved soccer and was deeply involved in campus life.
Family says mental‑health struggles preceded tragedy
Bel’s father, Pierre Ronal Bel, told the local organization Springfield G92 that his son had called shortly before the accident, saying he was “not feeling okay mentally because of the bullying.” The elder Bel said he urged his son to come home for a conversation, but police later arrived to deliver the tragic news.
Faith leaders link death to broader ICE crackdown on Haitian families
In the days following the accident, faith leaders and immigrant‑rights advocates gathered to denounce what they describe as an unfair ICE crackdown on Haitian families who arrived under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Haitian community leader Viles Dorsainvil, who runs the Haitian Support Center, warned that ICE agents are conducting frequent raids and fitting individuals who have lost TPS with ankle monitors.
“If you are asking for them, they will show up and appear before the judge. You ask them to go for ICE check‑in, they do that,” Dorsainvil said. He added that the ankle monitors are “excessive” and likened them to “symbols of slavery,” arguing they humiliate families rather than protect public safety.
Local clergy balance support for border security with concern for Haitian families
Springfield pastor Carl Ruby emphasized that supporting strong border security and deporting violent criminals does not mean endorsing the current tactics aimed at Haitian families. “We can support border security. We can support the deportation of violent criminals. But we do not support this,” he said.
Dorsainvil appealed directly to the Trump administration, asking for humane treatment of Haitian immigrants. “We deserve to be treated with dignity. We deserve to be treated as human beings. We are not animals,” he urged.
Community response and planned prayer march
Faith leaders plan to march around Springfield City Hall on Sunday afternoon, praying for Bel’s family and calling for an end to the ankle‑monitor program and daily ICE raids. While exact numbers of recent arrests or monitor placements were not provided, organizers said the practice has created a climate of fear among Haitian families.
The tragedy has reignited a conversation about immigration enforcement, mental‑health support for young adults, and the role of local faith communities in advocating for compassionate policy. As Springfield mourns Pierre Damas Bel, the city’s leaders and residents are urging state and federal officials to reconsider aggressive enforcement tactics that many say undermine the dignity and safety of immigrant families.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
