Feds Say Illegal Alien Licensed in New York Caused Deadly Tennessee Pileup [WATCH]

Federal officials announced Wednesday that the suspect accused of causing a deadly multi-vehicle pileup in Tennessee last week was an illegal immigrant who obtained a commercial driver’s license in New York, a state frequently described by critics as a sanctuary jurisdiction, as reported by Fox News.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation identified the suspect as 54-year-old Yisong Huang, who they said illegally entered the United States from Mexico in 2023.

According to federal officials, Huang was later released under the Biden administration and provided work authorization papers, despite reportedly being unable to speak English.

JUST IN: Federal officials reveal Tennessee crash suspect was illegal immigrant with New York CDL. Yisong Huang allegedly caused fatal pileup while distracted by phone video. pic.twitter.com/5RHC1z2ir0

— Luca Taner (@LucaTaner) December 18, 2025

Investigators said the crash occurred on Dec. 9, when Huang was driving an empty bus on a major Tennessee highway.

Authorities reported that Huang became “distracted by a video on his phone” before rear-ending a tractor-trailer. The collision set off a chain-reaction crash involving multiple vehicles.

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Officials said the incident resulted in two injuries and the death of one American citizen, Kerry Smith. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office later arrested Huang and charged him with vehicular manslaughter.

The New York Post reported that Huang was operating a tour bus at the time of the crash.

Federal officials said the crash highlighted ongoing concerns about illegal immigrants obtaining commercial driver’s licenses and operating large vehicles on public roadways.

‘UNQUALIFIED’: The man suspected of causing a massive fatal pileup in Tennessee was a Chinese national who illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico before being released by the Biden administration and given work authorization papers, according to federal officials.

54-year-old… pic.twitter.com/LykzHCd965

— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 18, 2025

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, linking it to broader federal immigration and licensing policies.

“It’s not just that Joe Biden let millions of migrants flood into our country illegally,” Duffy said.

“His administration doled out the documentation these unqualified foreign drivers needed to obtain trucking licenses and operate 40-ton missiles on the highway. The fact that this individual failed a basic English test also calls into question how he even got the license in the first place.”

According to DHS, Huang admitted to Border Patrol agents that he was a Chinese national after entering the U.S. illegally.

Officials said he was later released and provided with work authorization papers and a Social Security card.

DHS alleged that those documents allowed Huang to obtain a Class B commercial driver’s license, which ultimately led to the fatal crash.

Putnam County, TN: Chinese national and illegal alien Huang Yisong, who had a NY CDL, is charged with Vehicular Homicide after he was involved in a fatal crash while driving a tour bus. https://t.co/xGw4WpAloB pic.twitter.com/H049lnTIxZ

— Illegal Alien Crimes (@ImmigrantCrimes) December 17, 2025

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed Wednesday that Huang’s CDL was issued on April 11, 2025.

The agency said Huang presented all required federal documents at the time of issuance and that his paperwork established a “lawful presence” valid until July 15, 2029.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem commented on the case Tuesday, tying it to broader enforcement efforts.

“Far too many innocent Americans have been killed by illegal aliens driving semitrucks and big rigs,” Noem said.

“And yet, sanctuary states around the country have been issuing illegal aliens commercial driver’s licenses. The Trump Administration is ending the chaos. The brave men and women of ICE are working nonstop to get criminal illegal aliens out of our communities and off our roads.”

Duffy also announced Friday that a nationwide audit found more than 50% of New York’s non-domiciled trucking licenses were issued illegally.

Non-domiciled licenses are commercial licenses issued to drivers who are not legal residents of the state.

According to Duffy, New York’s DMV “has been routinely issuing CDLs to foreign drivers illegally.”

He said the audit revealed a “shocking 53% failure rate in the records sampled, indicating a total collapse in the administration of New York’s CDL program.”

New York State DMV spokesperson Walter McClure pushed back against those claims in a statement Friday.

“Secretary Duffy is lying about New York State once again in a desperate attempt to distract from the failing, chaotic administration he represents,” McClure said.

“Here is the truth: Commercial driver’s Licenses are regulated by the Federal Government, and New York State DMV has, and will continue to, comply with federal rules.”

McClure added, “Every CDL we issue is subject to verification of an applicant’s lawful status through federally-issued documents reviewed in accordance with federal regulations. This is just another stunt from Secretary Duffy, and it does nothing to keep our roads safer. We will review USDOT’s letter and respond accordingly.”

Fox News Digital said it reached out to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation for additional details.

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