A devastating collision in Hendricks County, Indiana, just west of Indianapolis, has left a community reeling and ignited a fierce debate about border security and transportation safety. The crash, occurring Wednesday, claimed the life of 64-year-old Terry Schultz when a semi-truck barreled through a red light.
The driver of the Freightliner, identified as Sukhdeep Singh, is not a U.S. citizen, but an individual from India who entered the country in 2018. Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture: the truck, hauling a trailer, disregarded the signal, slamming into Schultz’s Chevrolet pickup. The impact sent the pickup spinning across the median, colliding with another vehicle.
Singh had obtained a commercial driver’s license in May 2025, raising questions about the vetting process for non-citizens seeking to operate large commercial vehicles. He was initially apprehended at the border as a minor in 2018, but subsequently released into the United States.
This tragedy echoes a similar incident just weeks prior, where another truck driver, Bekzhan Beishekeev from Kazakhstan, allegedly caused a fatal crash resulting in four deaths. Beishekeev entered the U.S. in 2023 utilizing the CBP One app and was also later granted a commercial driver’s license, this time in Pennsylvania.
The circumstances surrounding Singh’s release are tied to the 1997 Flores consent decree, a legal agreement stemming from a lawsuit concerning the detention of unaccompanied immigrant children. The decree mandated the release of these children to family members or adult relatives instead of prolonged detention.
Efforts to alter this policy were initiated during the Trump administration in 2019, but the decree remained in effect when Singh crossed the border. The current situation highlights the complex interplay between immigration policy and public safety concerns.
This isn’t an isolated event. Last August, Harjinder Singh, another individual from India, faced charges of vehicular homicide after a crash that claimed three lives. Investigations revealed he failed a basic English language proficiency test required for commercial drivers, correctly answering only a fraction of the questions.
The Department of Transportation found that Harjinder Singh answered only 2 out of 12 verbal questions correctly and identified just 1 of 4 highway traffic signs. This raises serious questions about the adequacy of testing procedures and the potential risks posed by drivers unfamiliar with U.S. traffic laws and signage.
The recent cluster of incidents has sparked outrage and calls for stricter regulations regarding the licensing of commercial drivers, particularly those who are not U.S. citizens. The focus is now on preventing future tragedies and ensuring the safety of all travelers on American roads.
Sukhdeep Singh is currently in ICE custody as investigations continue. The weight of this loss hangs heavy over the community, and the search for answers – and accountability – is only just beginning.
