Illegal Indian Migrant Arrested for Causing Multi-Vehicle Pileup in California
Indian trucker’s reckless driving leaves 5-year-old critically injured.
In a tragic incident in California, an Indian national, Partap Singh, illegally in the US, was arrested by ICE last month for causing a multi-vehicle crash in June 2024. Driving an 18-wheeler at unsafe speeds, Singh ignored traffic and construction zone warnings, leading to a devastating pileup.
The crash left five-year-old Dalilah Coleman with life-altering injuries, including a broken femur, skull fractures, and diagnoses of diplegic cerebral palsy and global developmental delay. Unable to walk, talk, or eat orally, Dalilah spent three weeks in a coma, underwent a craniectomy, and required six months of hospitalization. Her stepfather, Michael Krause, was also hospitalized, and several others sustained injuries requiring medical attention.
Singh, who crossed the southern border illegally in October 2022, was released into the US under the Biden administration’s policies and later issued a commercial driver’s license by California’s DMV under Governor Gavin Newsom.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the incident, calling it preventable and criticizing California’s DMV for issuing licenses to undocumented individuals. “How many more innocent people must become victims?” Noem stated, emphasizing DHS’s efforts to deport dangerous individuals like Singh, who remains in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.
This marks the second case involving an Indian national illegally in the US causing a deadly crash. In August, Harjinder Singh, also holding a California-issued commercial license, caused a fatal accident in Florida, killing three people after an illegal U-turn. Harjinder failed an English proficiency test, raising concerns about licensing standards.
Following that incident, the US paused worker visas for commercial truck drivers, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio citing risks to American lives and truckers’ livelihoods. The Department of Transportation is investigating both crashes to address safety concerns.
Also Read: Gurugram Doctor Arrested After Death of 4-Year-Old Boy
Also Read: Arunachal Professor Arrested for Molesting Student, University Acts Swiftly
