A 36-year-old Mississippi resident died after being struck by an oncoming semi-truck struck him Thursday afternoon after stepping onto Interstate-20 in Hinds County.
The victim has been identified by the Mississippi Highway Patrol as Dedric Garrett of Terry, Mississippi.
He exited his 2016 Honda CR-V along the westbound lanes near the 29-mile marker around 1:30 p.m., according to Border Hawk.
A 2021 Freightliner tractor-trailer travelling in the same direction struck Garrett, inflicting fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased by the first responders at the scene.
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State troopers identified the semi-truck driver as Sube Singh, 26, of Fresno, California. While the crash was severe, Singh escaped the without any injuries.
Law enforcement has not announced any formal charges as investigators work to determine the factors leading up to the collision.
The crash has drawn broader scrutiny following disclosures regarding Singh’s legal status in the United States. According to statements from the Department of Homeland Security, Singh is a citizen of India residing in the country without legal authorization.
U.S. Border Patrol agents first apprehended Singh on Nov. 19, 2017. Federal immigration officials released him from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on bond in May 2018, enrolling him in an alternative-to-detention program that tracks individuals using GPS monitors.
News of the incident ignited intense public backlash online, with observers questioning how an unauthorized immigrant could remain under alternative monitoring since 2018 while holding commercial driving credentials.
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Commentators on social media called for legal action against the driver’s employer, heightened federal scrutiny of regional freight fleets, and potential civil accountability for state licensing authorities.
DHS officials pointed to the incident as part of broader public safety concerns regarding non-citizen commercial vehicle operators.
Federal authorities noted that operating heavy trucks requires strict adherence to traffic laws and proficiency in English, adding that multi-agency efforts remain underway to address unauthorized drivers on commercial roadways.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol continues its active investigation into the crash.