Southern California witnessed a horrifying accident today after a 21-year-old Indian national was arrested for causing a massive crash on Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County.
Three Killed in Major Highway Collision
The accused, Jashanpreet Singh, was driving an 18-wheeler semi-truck when he rammed into slow-moving vehicles ahead of him.
The crash killed three people and left several others injured. Dash-cam footage reportedly shows that Singh did not apply the brakes before impact.
Singh Found Driving Under Influence
Toxicology tests confirmed that Singh was under the influence of a substance at the time of the crash.
Authorities have charged him with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, along with other related offences.
Illegal Entry and Immigration Background
Federal officials revealed that Singh is an illegal immigrant who crossed the southern US border in 2022.
He was later released under the Biden administration’s “alternatives to detention” policy, pending an immigration hearing.
Following his arrest, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a detainer on him.
Renewed Scrutiny of Commercial Driving Rules
This tragedy comes amid growing concerns over commercial driver licensing for non-citizens.
In August, another illegal immigrant, Harjinder Singh, faced charges in Florida for a crash that also claimed three lives.
Both Jashanpreet and Harjinder reportedly held California-issued commercial driving licences.
Officials Call for Stricter Enforcement
US Secretary of Transport Sean Duffy criticised California authorities for not strictly enforcing federal English proficiency and verification requirements for truck drivers.
He urged stronger checks to ensure only qualified and verified individuals operate heavy commercial vehicles.
Rising Tensions Over Immigration
The case has reignited debate over immigration control and public safety.
Experts warn that such incidents could fuel anti-immigrant sentiment, affecting even legal immigrants who live and work responsibly in the US.
