Deadly US Truck Crash Kills Three, Indian Driver Arrested for Manslaughter

A tragic accident in Southern California has left at least three people dead and several others injured after a fiery truck crash involving a Freightliner tractor-trailer. The driver, identified as 21-year-old Indian national Jashanpreet Singh, was arrested on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. The crash occurred on a San Bernardino County freeway and was caught on the dashcam of Singh’s truck, showing the SUV being struck with deadly force. Police confirmed that Singh never applied the brakes before the collision, highlighting the severity of the crash caused by reckless driving.

Jashanpreet Singh, an Indian national and illegal immigrant in the United States, reportedly crossed the southern US border in 2022. Singh’s prior encounter with Border Patrol agents in California’s El Centro Sector in March 2022 resulted in his release under the Biden administration’s “alternatives to detention” policy, which allowed illegal immigrants to remain in the country pending hearings. Singh’s illegal status in the US is now under scrutiny following the deadly truck crash, and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer against him after his arrest.

Authorities said the crash caused a fiery collision and involved multiple vehicles, including the SUV in which the three victims died. Several others were injured, including Singh himself and a mechanic assisting with a tire change on the freeway. Toxicology tests revealed that Singh was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash, further compounding the tragic consequences of his actions. The victims of the crash have not been publicly identified, and the incident has renewed concerns over illegal immigrant drivers in commercial trucking in the US.

The San Bernardino County crash is the latest involving Indian immigrant truck drivers in the United States. In August, another Indian immigrant, Harjinder Singh, allegedly caused a fatal crash in Fort Pierce, Florida, killing three people. Similar to Jashanpreet Singh, Harjinder Singh had crossed the US border illegally before obtaining a commercial driver’s license in California. These incidents have sparked national debate over the screening and regulation of commercial truck drivers with unlawful immigration status.

Law enforcement agencies have emphasized the importance of road safety and strict monitoring of truck drivers, particularly those operating large commercial vehicles like Singh’s Freightliner. The investigation into the Southern California crash is ongoing, with authorities reviewing the dashcam footage, conducting interviews, and awaiting further toxicology reports. Jashanpreet Singh remains in custody, facing charges for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, as well as scrutiny regarding his immigration status.

This tragic freeway accident in Southern California underlines the deadly consequences of reckless driving, drug impairment, and challenges surrounding illegal immigration enforcement. Authorities continue to investigate the crash thoroughly, while families of the victims mourn the devastating loss caused by Singh’s actions behind the wheel.