California: Authorities in California have confirmed that the Indian-origin truck driver involved in a deadly multi-vehicle collision last month was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash. However, prosecutors say the incident still qualifies as grossly negligent homicide.
Jashanpreet Singh, 21, from Yuba City, was taken into custody on October 21 following a massive highway crash in Ontario, California, that left three people dead and several others critically injured. Initially booked on suspicion of driving under the influence, Singh has since been cleared of intoxication after toxicology reports returned negative results.
Despite this finding, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office announced that Singh will continue to face three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. A new charge—reckless driving causing injury—has also been added to the updated complaint.
Investigators say dashcam footage captured Singh’s semi-truck barreling at high speed into stationary traffic, resulting in the devastating pileup. District Attorney Jason Anderson described the case as a “senseless tragedy” that could have been avoided.
“This horrific crash took three innocent lives and seriously harmed others. It happened because of gross negligence behind the wheel,” Anderson said, emphasizing that Singh should never have been in California given his immigration status.
According to reports, Singh entered the United States illegally in 2022 by crossing the southern border and was released pending an immigration hearing. He remains in custody with no bail, as prosecutors argue he poses a significant flight risk.
This marks the second fatal highway incident involving an Indian-origin truck driver in the US in recent months. In August, 28-year-old Harjinder Singh was accused of making an illegal U-turn in Florida that led to another crash killing three people.
The string of fatal accidents has reignited debate over the presence of foreign commercial drivers on US highways. In the wake of the August incident, US Senator Marco Rubio called for a temporary halt on issuing commercial truck driver visas, citing safety concerns and impacts on domestic drivers.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Ontario crash as the victims’ families seek justice for what officials have called an entirely preventable tragedy.
