A semi-truck driver accused in a deadly chain-reaction crash that killed three people on a California highway is now the focus of an investigation — and has reignited debate over immigration enforcement.
Authorities said the driver, 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh, was under the influence of drugs when his Freightliner semi-truck slammed into several vehicles on Interstate 10 in Ontario on Tuesday afternoon.
Singh faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of a drug causing injury, according to a criminal complaint.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, and an immigration detainer has been placed on him.
Dashcam footage captures deadly chain-reaction crash
According to the California Highway Patrol, Singh failed to stop when traffic slowed, causing a fiery collision that killed three people and injured at least three others. Dashcam footage shows the semi-truck plowing into multiple vehicles, veering off the shoulder, and striking additional cars before halting.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, which filed charges Thursday, said video and eyewitness accounts showed Singh “traveling at a high rate of speed into stopped traffic,” creating a “massive and chaotic scene.”
A 54-year-old Toyota Tacoma driver and two people in a Kia Sorento died in the crash. A 43-year-old Dodge Avenger driver and a 59-year-old pedestrian suffered major injuries, while a 57-year-old passenger in a Chevrolet 2500 sustained minor injuries.
In total, eight vehicles, including four commercial trucks, were involved.
Officials condemn the tragedy
San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson called the crash a “heinous tragedy” that could have been avoided.
“Had the rule of law been followed by State and Federal officials, the defendant should have never been in California at all,” Anderson said in a statement.
Singh, a resident of Yuba City, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of DUI.
“This is a tragic reminder of how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away by someone driving irresponsibly and impaired,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.
Prosecutors filed three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of DUI causing injury, noting that additional charges may follow as the investigation continues.
Singh remains in custody without bail, with prosecutors citing the severity of the offense and his flight risk.
DHS and ICE respond
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged an arrest detainer against Singh. DHS said Singh entered the U.S. illegally from India through the southern border in 2022.
“This tragedy follows a disturbing pattern of criminal illegal aliens driving commercial vehicles on American roads, directly threatening public safety,” DHS said on X.
The department also pointed to a similar case last week in Indiana, where another man in the U.S. illegally was arrested after a deadly truck crash. In that case, the driver lacked a valid commercial license.
CDL controversy and political fallout
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Singh held a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) set to expire in October 2026, KABC reported.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday that California issued Singh’s CDL.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office stated that the federal government had approved and renewed Singh’s employment authorization several times, allowing him to legally obtain a CDL under federal law.
“This is tragic, and as with every tragedy over the last ten months, Secretary Noem has ordered Secretary Duffy to look for every opportunity to manipulate the facts to score cheap political points,” Newsom’s office said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, however, condemned the incident, saying:
“This is exactly why I set new restrictions that prohibit ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS from operating trucks.”
Duffy cited his recent order strengthening English language requirements for commercial truck drivers, part of President Donald Trump’s executive initiative to enforce stricter standards.
Last week, Duffy announced the Transportation Department would withhold $40 million in funding from California after finding it was the only state not enforcing English language compliance for truckers.
“We cannot allow our roads to be a dangerous place!” Duffy wrote on X.
Related cases raise broader concerns
In August, a deadly collision in Florida involving another foreign truck driver killed three people after the driver made an illegal U-turn. Authorities said that driver, also from India, entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) said the Florida driver did not speak English and held a non-domiciled CDL from California (issued in 2024) and a regular CDL from Washington state (issued in 2023). California officials confirmed he had a valid work permit at the time.
In September, Secretary Duffy announced stricter eligibility standards for noncitizens applying for non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits and commercial driver’s licenses, tightening federal oversight on foreign drivers operating in the U.S.
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