A Chinese national involved in a tour bus crash on a Tennessee highway was found to have entered the U.S. without authorization. Despite this, he was given a driver’s license by New York state.
According to federal authorities from Homeland Security and Transportation, Van Eason, 54, crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2023. He was released under a Biden administration policy and ultimately made his way to Brooklyn, where his commercial driver’s license was later revoked.
“Too many innocent Americans are being killed by illegal aliens driving semi-trucks and large trucks,” stated Homeland Security Secretary Kirsti Noem.
Authorities report that Hwang Yi-sung, also 54 and living in Brooklyn, was driving the tour bus during the Tennessee accident.
On December 9, a crash on Interstate 40 resulted in one death and numerous injuries, according to police.
Noem emphasized that states offering commercial driver’s licenses to unauthorized immigrants is a troubling trend.
Eason was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide following the severe crash, which resulted in the death of a 31-year-old truck driver and multiple injuries. Officials indicated that Eason confessed to U.S. Border Patrol agents that he entered the country illegally but was granted labor documents and a Social Security card, enabling him to get a New York City commercial driver’s license earlier this year.
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has denied any wrongdoing in approving Eason’s license, asserting it was issued on April 11, 2025, based on valid federal documents.
This issue of issuing commercial permits to immigrants in sanctuary states, like New York, has been highlighted by President Trump as part of his broader immigration enforcement efforts.
Noem remarked that the incident in Tennessee showcased the failures of Biden’s immigration policies. “The Trump administration is trying to end the chaos,” she said, commending the work of ICE in removing dangerous illegal immigrants from neighborhoods.
Recently, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to withdraw $73 million in federal highway funding from New York after an audit uncovered that foreign-born drivers were frequently receiving licenses.
Duffy added, “Not only did Joe Biden illegally bring millions of immigrants into our country, but his administration also provided unqualified foreign drivers with the necessary documentation to obtain truck licenses and operate 40-ton missiles on our highways.”
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Eason was distracted by videos on his cell phone prior to the tragic accident.
On December 9, while driving on Interstate 40, Eason crashed into a tractor-trailer after being distracted, which triggered a chain reaction involving multiple vehicles.
In total, one truck driver lost his life, and at least a dozen others sustained injuries. Additionally, it was reported that Eason failed an English proficiency test at the scene.
Living in Brooklyn, Eason is currently held in Tennessee’s Putnam County Jail on a bail of $175,000.
The office of Governor Kathy Hochul has not yet responded to inquiries regarding this matter.
The state DMV stated that Eason was legitimately issued a license after providing a valid federal work permit and Social Security card. They further noted, “Let’s be clear: regulating commercial driver’s licenses is the responsibility of the federal government. It is the height of hypocrisy for leaders in Washington to criticize states for following federal rules.”
