DHS: Massachusetts truck driver accused of killing PA state trooper was an illegal immigrant
A commercial truck driver from Massachusetts being held on $700,000 bail after allegedly killing a Pennsylvania state trooper in a fiery crash with another tractor-trailer Wednesday morning is an illegal immigrant from Haiti, federal authorities say.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tells the Herald that Michael Bon, 33, of Brockton, is a Haitian illegal immigrant who has been in the country illegally since June of 2025. DHS says the Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued Bon his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
On July 2, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) admitted Bon into the United States at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport as a parolee. In October of that year, Bon filed an application for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the Biden administration, which ultimately was never granted. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the federal government to end TPS for Haitian nationals.
DHS says in June of 2025 USCIS terminated Bon’s parole, issuing him a notice on June 13. But despite his parole being terminated, Bon refused to leave the country and remained in the United States illegally, settling in Brockton.
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is pointing the finger at the federal government, telling the Herald in a written statement that Bon was eligible for and received a Non-Domiciled Commercial Driver’s License under federal standards at the time of his application in March 2025.
“Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira Jr.’s death is a horrific and terrible tragedy. We mourn him and our thoughts are with his loved ones and fellow troopers. This defendant should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” RMV spokesperson Amelia Aubourg told the Herald. “The Non-Domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses program is a federal program. This individual was ruled eligible based on the Trump administration database and allowed to drive by federal law and Trump administration policies.”
The RMV says Bon applied to renew his CDL in February 2026 and was again approved, adding that he would not have been approved if he applied for renewal next year. The Trump administration implemented a new rule on March 16 directing states not to renew or issue new non-domiciled CDLs.
“The RMV relies on the federal SAVE database to determine whether someone is eligible to work in the United States. When Bon applied for in 2025 and 2026, he was listed by the federal government as eligible,” Aubourg said.
But while the RMV cites Bon’s work eligibility, it is the Massachusetts State Police that is tasked with managing all CDL skills and road tests in coordination with the RMV. The Herald asked Aubourg what the MSP’s role was in Bon being issued a CDL and why the law enforcement agency is tasked with managing the road tests to begin with.
“The Massachusetts State Police’s role is limited to conducting the commercial skills tests for the CDL program. They do not have the authority to approve or issue CDLs,” said Aubourg.
Last year, six State Police troopers in the MSP’s CDL Unit were found guilty of participating in a conspiracy to pass prospective drivers who had failed the test in exchange for gifts — what prosecutors say they called “the golden handshake.”
Bon was arraigned on several charges Thursday morning, including involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, and reckless driving, among other charges. DHS says ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Bon on Thursday.
The fiery crash happened on I-81 in Schuylkill County and resulted in the death of 44-year-old State Trooper Michael Pahira, according to the Pottsville Republican Herald. The newspaper reports Trooper Pahira was conducting a routine commercial inspection on another tractor-trailer at approximately 7 a.m. Wednesday, when the crash occurred. Authorities say both the tractor-trailer and Trooper Pahira’s police vehicle were pulled over on the right-hand shoulder of the highway.
Pahira had been speaking with the other driver, Walter Alfredo Reinoso, of Queens, NY, during the routine stop when Bon’s tractor-trailer suddenly veered into the right-hand shoulder and struck them.
“According to the affidavit, nearby construction workers observed smoke and headed towards the scene. They managed to pull Pahira out from beneath the vehicle and drag him about 30 yards away from the wreckage,” the Republican Herald reported. “Pahira never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead later Wednesday morning at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill in Pottsville. Bon was also transported to the hospital for undisclosed injuries.”
Court records go on to indicate that Trooper Pahira was pinned between the front bumper of Bon’s tractor-trailer and the side cab of the other. The other driver, Reinoso, told media outlets that he briefly lost consciousness from the impact. When he regained consciousness, Reinoso says he climbed out of his truck cab to find the group of construction workers attempting to pull Pahira from the wreckage. Reinoso provided authorities with dash camera footage of the crash.
Gov. Josh Shapiro held a press conference Wednesday mourning the loss of Trooper Pahira, who was pronounced dead at 11:45 a.m.
“I ask the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to pray for the Pahira family. To pray for his friends and neighbors. To pray for Troop L, where Mike served, and, of course, pray for the entire Pennsylvania State Police community. Today is a horrible reminder of the service and the sacrifice that they devote to this Commonwealth every single day,” Shapiro said. “As the governor of this Commonwealth, I am profoundly grateful, and I sleep better at night knowing the Pennsylvania State Police does this work in communities across our Commonwealth.”
Pahira had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for over 20 years and was called a “devoted” uncle, brother and son by family members.
Bon is currently held in Schuylkill County Prison after failing to post his $700,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 16.
