A tragic accident in California has led to the deaths of three people and left several others injured. Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old from India, was driving a semi-truck that crashed into slow-moving traffic on a freeway in Ontario. The crash involved eight vehicles and occurred on Tuesday, according to law enforcement officials.
Investigators found that Singh had drugs in his system at the time of the crash. He has been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of drugs causing bodily injury. Currently, he is in custody with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and is not eligible for bail. Singh is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
Singh’s journey to the U.S. has raised questions about immigration policies. He crossed into California illegally in March 2022 and was later released by Border Patrol pending a court date. This situation has sparked discussions about the implications of allowing undocumented immigrants to operate commercial vehicles.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy responded to the incident by highlighting ongoing issues with California’s commercial truck licensing standards. He noted that the Department of Transportation has withheld $40 million from California due to non-compliance with safety regulations designed to protect drivers.
This incident is part of a larger conversation about the safety of roads and the qualifications of those driving large vehicles. In a separate case, an illegal immigrant from Serbia was arrested for a fatal crash in Indiana while driving a semi-truck without a valid license. These events have prompted calls for stricter regulations regarding who is allowed to operate commercial trucks in the U.S.
As the investigation continues, many are left mourning the loss of life and questioning the safety measures in place for commercial drivers.
