A 21-year-old Indian-origin truck driver, Jashanpreet Singh, was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs during a fatal multi-vehicle crash in Ontario, California, last month, toxicology reports have confirmed. Despite clearing him of DUI charges, San Bernardino County prosecutors maintain the case as “grossly negligent homicide,” charging Singh with three counts of vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving causing injury. The October 21 collision killed three people and left several others seriously wounded.

Dashcam and eyewitness footage revealed Singh barreling at high speed into stopped traffic on a California highway, triggering a chain-reaction pileup. Authorities filed an updated complaint last week, dropping intoxication allegations after blood tests returned negative. However, the District Attorney’s office insists the tragedy was “easily avoidable” had Singh not driven with extreme recklessness. He remains in custody without bail, deemed a flight risk.

Singh, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was released pending an immigration hearing, should “never have been in California,” District Attorney Jason Anderson stated. The case has fueled intense scrutiny of federal border policies and commercial trucking regulations. No bail has been granted, and prosecutors vow to oppose any release given the severity of the charges and Singh’s immigration status.

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This marks the second fatal crash involving an Indian-origin truck driver in recent months. In August, 28-year-old Harjinder Singh allegedly caused a three-death pileup in Florida after an illegal U-turn, facing vehicular homicide charges. The incidents prompted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to suspend all new commercial truck driver work visas, citing risks to American lives and livelihoods from foreign operators.

As investigations continue, the California tragedy underscores growing concerns over road safety, driver accountability, and immigration enforcement in the trucking industry. With three families in mourning and a young driver behind bars, authorities are pushing for stricter oversight to prevent such preventable disasters on America’s highways.

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