Indian-Origin Truck Driver Arrested After Indiana Crash

Authorities say the driver was in the U.S. illegally and should not have been operating a commercial vehicle.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:37am

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the arrest of Sukhdev Singh, a 25-year-old Indian-origin truck driver, after he allegedly caused a crash in Indianapolis that left a U.S. citizen hospitalized in critical condition. DHS claims Singh was in the country illegally and should not have been issued a commercial driver's license by the state of New York.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about the safety implications of undocumented immigrants operating large commercial vehicles on American roads, as well as questions about state policies that grant driver's licenses to those in the country illegally.

The details

According to authorities, Singh hit a pedestrian at an intersection in Indianapolis on March 6. Police responded and arrested Singh, then contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who took him into custody. ICE revealed Singh entered the U.S. illegally and was issued a non-domiciled commercial driver's license by the state of New York in 2025.

  • The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. EST on March 6, 2026.
  • Singh was arrested by police that same evening and taken into ICE custody.

The players

Sukhdev Singh

A 25-year-old Indian-origin truck driver who was in the U.S. illegally and allegedly caused a crash that left a pedestrian in critical condition.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that arrested Singh and placed him in removal proceedings after the crash.

Kathy Hochul

The governor of New York, whose state issued a commercial driver's license to Singh despite his illegal immigration status.

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What they’re saying

“It is common sense: illegal aliens should not be operating 18-wheelers on American highways. We are praying this individual makes a full recovery.”

— Lauren Bis, Deputy Assistant Secretary

“Governor Kathy Hochul should have never given this illegal alien a CDL to wreak havoc on American streets.”

— DHS Official (DHS News Release)

What’s next

ICE will continue to hold Singh in custody pending the outcome of his immigration proceedings.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the potential public safety risks of allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain commercial driver's licenses, as well as the need for stronger coordination between federal immigration authorities and state licensing agencies.