Michael Bon Arrested in Trooper’s I-81 Death as Crash Spurs Scrutiny of CDL Checks
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 8
Michael Bon Arrested in Trooper’s I-81 Death as Crash Spurs Scrutiny of CDL Checks
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 8
Summary
33-year-old Haitian national Michael Bon was arrested after authorities said his truck drifted and hit Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira Jr. on Interstate 81 during a commercial-vehicle inspection.
Pennsylvania Sen. Doug Mastriano said the death was preventable twice over, arguing Bon should not have been on the road and that the state’s move-over law required drivers to change lanes or slow near emergency vehicles.
Massachusetts issued Bon’s commercial driver’s license, while both Massachusetts and Pennsylvania said they relied on the federal SAVE database to verify lawful presence; PennDOT has paused such license issuances since a Sept. 29, 2025 federal order.
Mastriano urged Gov. Josh Shapiro to tighten state screening instead of blaming DHS alone, while also suggesting Washington use highway funds and defense-linked infrastructure spending to push safer interstate standards.
The case has widened concern over immigration enforcement and CDL fraud, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning illegal immigrants are obtaining commercial licenses and another fatal crash in Illinois cited as a similar example.