Overview
- Authorities say 54-year-old Yisong Huang rear-ended a tractor-trailer on Dec. 9 on I-40 in Tennessee while distracted by a phone video, killing truck driver Kerry Smith, 31, and injuring at least a dozen people.
- DHS and DOT confirmed Huang admitted unlawful entry in 2023 and was released with work authorization and a Social Security number before obtaining a license.
- The New York DMV said Huang was issued a Class B CDL on April 11, 2025 after federal document verification and argued commercial licensing rules are a federal responsibility.
- Investigators reported Huang failed an English proficiency test required for CDL holders, intensifying questions about licensing compliance.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to withhold about $73 million in federal highway funds from New York as part of broader audits and enforcement targeting non‑domiciled CDL issuance.