An illegal immigrant truck driver who remained in the U.S. despite being ordered to leave has been charged in the death of a Pennsylvania State Police trooper who had recently moved home to help care for his mother during her cancer treatment.

Details of the Crash

Michael E. Pahira Jr., 44, was conducting a commercial vehicle inspection along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County on Wednesday morning when another semi-truck left the roadway, struck his marked patrol vehicle and the truck he was inspecting before hitting the trooper, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

The driver, identified as 33-year-old Michael Bon, a Haitian national living in Brockton, Massachusetts, was charged with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and six additional lesser charges. He is being held at Schuylkill County Prison on $700,000 bail.

Background of the Driver

Bon entered the United States through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in July 2024 under the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole program. He later applied for Temporary Protected Status, but the application was denied. The Department of Homeland Security terminated his parole in June 2025 and ordered him to leave the country, but he remained in the United States.

While living in Massachusetts, Bon obtained a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license in March 2025. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles said he first qualified for the license in 2025 while he was authorized to work under federal law.

Reaction and Investigation

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro remembered Pahira as ‘the very best of us,’ saying the veteran trooper had recently moved back home to help care for his mother as she underwent cancer treatments.

The Department of Transportation has also threatened to withhold federal funding from states found to be issuing licenses to drivers who are ineligible under federal law.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.