A 21-year-old man from India who entered the United States illegally through the southern border has been arrested following a devastating semi-truck collision that claimed three lives on a Southern California freeway.
The suspect was released into the country by federal authorities after his initial apprehension in 2022.
Jashanpreet Singh faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after the fatal incident on Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County.
Multiple federal law enforcement sources confirmed details of Singh’s immigration status and release.
Border Patrol agents first encountered Singh in March 2022 at California’s El Centro Sector.
Following standard procedures at the time, authorities released him into the interior of the United States with instructions to appear at a future immigration hearing.
The deadly crash occurred when Singh’s commercial vehicle plowed into slow-moving traffic on the I-10 Freeway.
Dashcam footage captured the moment of impact, which resulted in at least three fatalities and left several other motorists injured.
Investigators determined that Singh failed to apply his brakes before striking the backed-up vehicles.
Law enforcement officials cited toxicology test results that showed the driver was impaired at the time of the collision.
Following his arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials lodged an immigration detainer against Singh.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sources verified that he does not possess lawful immigration status in the United States, Fox News reported.
Singh’s release fell under an “alternatives to detention” policy implemented by the previous administration in 2022.
This approach allowed certain individuals encountered at the border to remain in the country while awaiting their immigration proceedings.
The incident represents one of multiple documented cases where individuals released pending immigration hearings later became involved in criminal activity.
News organizations have tracked several similar situations over recent years.
This crash marks another occurrence involving commercial truck drivers who entered the country illegally.
Just two months earlier, a separate fatal collision in Florida involved another driver with a similar background.
Harjinder Singh, who crossed the southern border without authorization in 2018, obtained a commercial driver’s license in California.
He stands accused of causing an August crash in Fort Pierce, Florida, that resulted in three deaths, Resist the Mainstream has outlined.
Officials examining that Florida incident reported that the driver had failed both English proficiency tests and road sign examinations.
The findings raised questions about licensing procedures and safety standards for commercial vehicle operators.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed these concerns in a statement released on Oct. 15.
His comments highlighted what he described as a systemic problem among commercial truck drivers regarding English language capabilities.
“I put states on notice this summer: enforce the Trump Administration’s English language requirements or the checks stop coming,” Duffy said.
“California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement.”
He continued, “This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s road.”
The California crash occurred in the same week that federal officials announced significant funding consequences for the state. The current administration declared it would withhold over $40 million in federal highway safety funding from California.
