A truck driver from Tennessee has died following a crash involving a tour bus driven by a Chinese national. This driver, who reportedly had limited English proficiency and held a commercial driver’s license (CDL) not registered in New York, is now under investigation by federal transportation authorities for how he obtained his license.
“Earlier this week, a large bus driven by a Chinese national collided with a vehicle in Tennessee, resulting in fatalities and significant traffic disruptions,” stated Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a social media update. “To make things worse, the driver had a non-domiciled CDL from New York State and struggled with English!”
Shortly before the incident, 54-year-old Huang Yisong was allegedly watching a video on his phone at the time of the crash, where he hit the back of a trailer. Reports suggest that he failed an English proficiency test given by Tennessee Highway Patrol officers. Meanwhile, his immigration status remains uncertain.
The state of New York issued Mr. Yisong a CDL even without an official address.
A spokesperson from the Department of Transportation expressed: “This is outrageous.” They indicated that an investigation into New York’s often unclear licensing procedures, which allow risky foreign drivers to operate in the U.S., is already underway.
Tennessee State Police have arrested the driver, though the specific charges related to this tragic incident have not yet been made clear.
Reports indicate that Yisong’s bus crashed into the rear of a tractor-trailer and then swerved into oncoming traffic on Interstate 40, ultimately colliding with a Volkswagen Jetta. Tragically, the driver of the other tractor-trailer, Kelly Smith, 31, lost his life in this accident.
Both Yisong and the Jetta’s driver sustained injuries.
According to New York DMV officials, the agency did not err in issuing the commercial driver’s license. “To clarify, the responsibility for regulating CDLs falls to the federal government,” a spokesperson remarked. “It’s a contradiction for Washington leaders to criticize states adhering to federal rules.”
In a related note, earlier this year, an executive order signed by President Donald Trump mandated that truck drivers must be fluent in English. This was reported by Breitbart’s Nick Gilbertson.
“The President believes that English proficiency is a crucial safety requirement for professional drivers, as they must understand traffic signs, communicate with safety personnel, and give instructions in English,” the order states.
The anticipated order specifies that Transportation Secretary Duffy would be tasked with “rescinding and overhauling guidance to enhance testing procedures for English proficiency,” according to White House documents.
Duffy mentioned he would provide further updates on the situation later this week. A Transportation Department representative informed that a press conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET to share additional details.
TotalNews has reached out to officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Transportation for more information. Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing story.
