An Indian semi-truck driver, identified as 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh, has been arrested in connection with a devastating multi-vehicle crash on California’s 10 Freeway in Ontario. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, resulted in three fatalities and four injuries. Authorities report that Singh may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the collision, which involved eight vehicles, including four large trucks.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Singh, an Indian national, illegally entered the United States in 2022 by crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. He had been residing in Yuba County, California.
Singh is facing charges including driving under the influence of drugs causing bodily injury and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. It remains unclear whether he possessed a valid commercial driver’s license when the accident took place.
A friend of Singh’s, Gurjot Malhar, shared that Singh had ambitions of a better life in the U.S. and described him as a kind and caring individual, akin to a brother. Malhar noted that Singh’s decision to become a truck driver was a significant step in his pursuit of opportunities in the United States.