Oregon: A 32-year-old Indian man living in the United States without legal documentation has been accused of causing a crash that killed two people in central Oregon late last month. Authorities say the incident occurred on the night of November 24 in Deschutes County, when a semi-truck driven by Rajinder Kumar was positioned across both lanes of a highway, leading to a high-speed collision with an oncoming car.
Crash details
According to the Oregon State Police, Kumar’s freightliner truck and trailer were found jackknifed across the roadway, creating a complete obstruction. A vehicle driven by 25-year-old William Micah Carter, with 24-year-old Jennifer Lynn Lower as a passenger, struck the trailer. Both victims died at the scene, while Kumar escaped without injury. Investigators noted poor lighting and the absence of active warning signals as potential contributing factors, and the highway remained shut for nearly seven hours during the response.
Kumar was taken into custody shortly after the incident and booked into the Deschutes County Jail on charges of criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment.
Immigration status and federal response
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed an arrest detainer on Kumar. Officials stated that he entered the country near Lukeville, Arizona, in late November 2022 and had been living in the U.S. unlawfully for approximately three years. Senior DHS officials sharply criticized state licensing systems and federal immigration policies, arguing that individuals without legal status should not be operating commercial trucks.
A pattern of recent incidents
Federal authorities say this case is the latest in a troubling series of serious road accidents in which Indian nationals who entered the U.S. illegally were behind the wheel of commercial vehicles:
- August (Florida): ICE lodged a detainer for Harjinder Singh, accused of three counts of vehicular homicide involving a semi-truck crash.
- August (California): Partap Singh was arrested after a multi-vehicle collision involving his 18-wheeler left a young child, five-year-old Dalilah Coleman, with life-altering injuries.
- October (California): ICE filed a detainer for Jashanpreet Singh, who allegedly caused a crash that killed three people while driving a commercial truck under the influence.
Investigation ongoing
Authorities in Oregon continue to review physical evidence, interview witnesses, and analyze road conditions in order to piece together the full sequence of events leading to the deadly collision. Kumar is expected to remain in custody while state and federal proceedings advance.
If you’d like, I can create a shorter wire-style bulletin or a more formal newspaper-ready version.
