California [US], October 23 (ANI): A 21-year-old Indian man, identified as Jashanpreet Singh, has been arrested in the United States for allegedly causing a fiery semi-truck crash that killed three people in San Bernardino County, California, Fox News reported.
Police said Singh was driving a big rig on the I-10 Freeway when he rammed into slow-moving traffic without braking. The impact caused a massive fire, killing three people and injuring several others, including Singh himself. Toxicology tests confirmed that Singh was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash. He has been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
US Attorney for Central California Bill Essayli told Fox News that Singh was under the influence of a stimulant and did not apply his brakes before crashing. “He was travelling at a fast rate of speed, and he did not apply his brakes at all. They do suspect he was under the influence of some type of stimulant. I do suspect he will be charged with vehicular homicide,” he said. Authorities are also investigating how Singh, an illegal immigrant, obtained a commercial driver’s license in California.
According to federal officials, Singh crossed the southern US border illegally in 2022 and was first stopped by Border Patrol agents in California’s El Centro Sector in March 2022. He was later released under the “alternatives to detention” policy, which allows certain migrants to stay in the US while awaiting immigration hearings. Singh does not hold lawful immigration status, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged an immigration detainer against him following his arrest.
The identities of the three victims have not yet been released. Among the injured was a mechanic who was assisting another vehicle with a tyre change at the time of the accident. Police noted that Singh never attempted to stop before the collision, indicating clear signs of impairment.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently criticised some states, including California, for not enforcing federal English language requirements for commercial truck drivers. The US government has warned that California could lose over $40 million in highway safety funding for failing to comply with federal rules. (ANI)
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