ONTARIO, California — A 21-year-old truck driver has been arrested following a deadly chain-reaction crash on the westbound 10 Freeway that left three people dead and several others injured.
Driver Identified as Jashanpreet Singh
Authorities identified the driver of the Freightliner semi-truck as Jashanpreet Singh, a resident of Yuba City in Northern California.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Singh was driving under the influence of drugs when his tractor-trailer slammed into several vehicles near Ontario on Tuesday afternoon.
“He was checked by medical staff, and our officers determined he was under the influence of drugs,” said CHP Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.
Singh was later arrested for vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence. A law enforcement source told ABC News that Singh is an Indian national who entered the U.S. in 2022 and is reportedly in the country illegally.
Three Dead, Others Severely Burned
The crash involved eight vehicles, including four commercial trucks. Officials said traffic had slowed or stopped before Singh allegedly failed to brake, causing a fiery pileup.
Witnesses described the scene as horrific.
“You couldn’t tell they were cars — just twisted metal,” said one witness.
Three people died at the scene, including a 54-year-old man from Upland. Two others were severely burned and remain unidentified.
Hazardous Material Spill and Investigation
The crash caused a fuel spill that triggered a hazardous materials response, shutting down lanes for several hours. CHP investigators confirmed dashcam footage shows no vehicle cut in front of the truck.
“It’s horrific to see,” said Officer Jimenez. “These families will never have their loved ones home for Christmas.”
Authorities will inspect the truck to rule out any mechanical failures, though preliminary findings suggest driver impairment was the main cause.
Political and Immigration Tensions
The case has drawn attention due to Singh’s reported illegal immigration status, echoing a recent Florida crash involving another undocumented truck driver from India that killed three people.
That crash sparked political backlash over California’s licensing policies for undocumented immigrants under Assembly Bill 60, which allows noncitizens to obtain driver’s licenses with proof of identity and residency.
Federal officials have also accused California of not enforcing English proficiency standards for commercial drivers, leading to a funding dispute with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“This tragedy highlights failures in oversight and enforcement,” a source familiar with the investigation said.
The CHP continues to investigate and urges anyone with information to contact Officer C. Gonzalez at (909) 980-3994.
