The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed additional information regarding the immigration status of the Massachusetts truck driver charged in the crash that claimed the life of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr.
The information was first reported Friday by the Boston Herald, citing DHS officials. Following that report, Skook News contacted the Department of Homeland Security requesting confirmation and additional details. DHS has since provided information regarding 33-year-old Michael Bon, of Brockton, Massachusetts.
According to DHS, Bon is a Haitian national who was in the United States illegally at the time of the crash.
DHS officials said Bon was admitted into the United States by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on July 2, 2024, at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport as a parolee.
On October 26, 2024, Bon filed an Application for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. DHS said that application was never granted.
According to DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued Bon a Notice of Termination of Parole on June 13, 2025. DHS stated that despite the termination of his parole, Bon remained in the United States illegally.
Following the July 1, 2026 crash, Pennsylvania State Police arrested Bon and charged him with homicide by vehicle and related offenses. DHS said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer against Bon on July 2.
DHS also confirmed that the state of Massachusetts issued Bon his Commercial Driver’s License.
Bon is facing multiple charges in Schuylkill County, including felony counts of homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle, along with involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, careless driving resulting in unintentional death, failure to properly respond in an emergency response area, improper lane usage, and failure to obey a traffic control device.
The charges stem from a crash on Interstate 81 southbound near Mile Marker 119.3 in Cass Township while Trooper Pahira, 44, was conducting a commercial vehicle inspection.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, Trooper Pahira was outside his marked patrol vehicle while inspecting a commercial motor vehicle stopped on the shoulder. Police say Bon’s tractor-trailer left the roadway, struck Pahira’s patrol vehicle, collided with the truck being inspected, and then struck Trooper Pahira.
Trooper Pahira, a Schuylkill County native and 20-year veteran assigned to Troop L in Frackville as a Motor Carrier Inspector, died from his injuries.
Bon is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 16.