An Indian-origin semi-truck driver accused of causing a deadly crash in Hendricks County, Indiana, has been taken into federal custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to multiple law enforcement sources.
The truck driver, 24-year-old Sukhdeep Singh, was handcuffed and taken into custody by Indiana State Police before being transferred to ICE.
Federal officials confirmed to local media that Sukhdeep Singh, originally from India, entered the United States illegally in 2018 as a minor. He was later issued a commercial driver’s licence (CDL) in Indiana in May 2025.
The crash occurred around noon on Wednesday along U.S. 36 near County Road 525E. Witnesses said the truck, driven eastbound, ran a red light and collided with a white Chevrolet pickup heading north. The driver of the pickup, 64-year-old Terry Schultz, died at the scene.
“He went through the intersection and hit the electric truck that was driving through,” said witness Kate Breedlove. Breedlove, who narrowly avoided the collision herself, rushed to assist Schultz.
“I think there was a lot of chaos going on, and I made it my job to be calming to him,” she said.
“I was just telling him everything was going to be okay. He was unresponsive, but at some point, I think he definitely took his last breath.”
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin of the Department of Homeland Security released a statement following the crash: “It’s incredibly dangerous for illegal aliens, who often don’t know our traffic laws or even English, to be operating semi-trucks on America’s roads.”
“These tragedies are 100% preventable, and we pray for the family and the victim.”
U.S. Senator Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana, said Sukhdeep Singh should never have been behind the wheel. “Another life taken on Indiana roads by a semi-truck driver who never should have been here or driving in the first place,” Banks said.
“This is not bad luck. This is not just another accident. This is a national crisis. We need real accountability and a major overhaul.”
Senator Banks has called on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to investigate trucking companies that employ illegal drivers and has introduced legislation to remove unsafe drivers from the roads.
The crash has reignited debate over immigration enforcement and road safety. Senator Banks also launched the TruckSafe tipline to allow the trucking industry to report concerns about carriers employing drivers living in the U.S. illegally.
“This is about saving lives,” Banks said.
“Every family should be able to drive on our roads without fearing another tragedy like this.”
Sukhdeep Singh’s Indiana driving history shows five citations since 2022, including speeding and insurance violations, raising questions about how he obtained his commercial licence. Local authorities continue to investigate whether speed, drugs, or alcohol contributed to Wednesday’s fatal crash.
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