California Truck Crash Kills Three: Driver Allegedly Under the Influence and in the U.S. Illegally

A devastating crash on California’s Interstate 10 has once again raised urgent questions about who is allowed to operate commercial trucks on American highways — and how systemic failures are putting innocent lives at risk.

Authorities say the driver of a Freightliner semi-truck, 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh, was under the influence of drugs when he plowed into multiple vehicles in Ontario, California, on Tuesday afternoon. The violent chain-reaction crash killed three people and injured several others. Singh, who is reportedly in the United States illegally, has been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury.

According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, dashcam and eyewitness footage showed Singh traveling “at a high rate of speed into stopped traffic,” resulting in what prosecutors called a “massive and chaotic scene.” The crash involved eight vehicles, including four commercial trucks, and left at least three drivers hospitalized with serious injuries.

“This is sadly a reminder of how precious life is and how fast it could be taken away at the hands of somebody who is driving irresponsibly, somebody who is impaired,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.

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A Preventable Tragedy

Prosecutors described the incident as “a heinous tragedy” — one that could have been easily avoided if the driver had not been impaired behind the wheel. They also noted that Singh should never have been in California to begin with. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Singh is in the U.S. illegally from India, having entered through the southern border in 2022. DHS has lodged an immigration detainer against him, and he is currently being held without bail.

The California Highway Patrol identified the three victims as a 54-year-old man driving a Toyota Tacoma and two occupants of a Kia Sorento. Other victims included a 43-year-old Dodge Avenger driver and a 59-year-old bystander who both suffered major injuries.

While the investigation continues, the underlying issues extend far beyond this one crash — revealing deep cracks in the system responsible for regulating who can operate commercial vehicles on U.S. roads.

Federal and State Accountability Under Scrutiny

In the aftermath, federal and state officials have exchanged blame over licensing and enforcement failures.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reacted sharply, citing the crash as an example of why the Department of Transportation has begun enforcing stricter English language and eligibility rules for commercial drivers. “This is exactly why I set new restrictions that prohibit ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS from operating trucks,” Duffy said in a statement.

He also pointed to the Department’s recent decision to withhold $40 million in federal funding from California, which investigators found to be the only state failing to comply with federal English proficiency requirements for truck drivers.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office responded by saying the federal government had approved and renewed Singh’s work authorization multiple times, allowing him to obtain a commercial driver’s license in accordance with federal law. The state pushed back against what it called politically motivated attacks, calling the incident “tragic” but emphasizing that Singh’s license was valid and federally sanctioned.

This clash between state and federal authorities underscores a growing policy divide — one that is leaving real families to bear the consequences.

A Pattern of Tragedies

Disturbingly, this is not an isolated incident. Just two months earlier, a deadly truck crash in Florida claimed three lives when another driver, also reportedly in the U.S. illegally, made an illegal U-turn on a highway. That driver, also from India, did not speak English and was found to be driving a commercial truck without a valid license.

KBD Attorneys covered that Florida crash in a previous blog, emphasizing how unqualified or unlicensed commercial drivers pose an increasing danger to everyone on the road. Together, these two cases reveal a growing pattern of regulatory breakdowns, inconsistent vetting, and inadequate enforcement of commercial driving standards.

Federal transportation officials have since announced plans to tighten eligibility for non-citizen commercial drivers and strengthen state compliance reviews. However, for the families affected, these measures come far too late.

Legal and Safety Implications

Crashes like this one raise pressing legal questions about liability and oversight. Victims and their families may pursue claims against the trucking company, its insurers, and any parties responsible for negligent hiring or failure to screen drivers properly. In many cases, employers have a duty to confirm a driver’s credentials, immigration status, and substance use history before allowing them to operate a vehicle capable of causing catastrophic harm.

When those safeguards fail, the results can be deadly.

At KBD Attorneys, we’ve seen firsthand how trucking negligence — whether due to impaired driving, fatigue, or inadequate oversight — can destroy lives in an instant. Our firm is committed to holding negligent drivers and the companies that employ them accountable.

Standing Up for Safer Roads

The California and Florida crashes are heartbreaking reminders that commercial trucking safety is not just a policy issue — it’s a human issue. Each crash represents lives cut short, families torn apart, and communities left to pick up the pieces.

Preventing future tragedies will require cooperation between states, federal regulators, and the trucking industry. But most importantly, it requires unwavering commitment to accountability — ensuring that only qualified, sober, and legally authorized drivers are trusted to operate 40-ton commercial vehicles on public highways.

KBD Attorneys will continue monitoring developments in both the California and Florida cases and advocating for stronger enforcement to protect all motorists from preventable harm.

If your family has been affected by a trucking accident, our attorneys can help you understand your legal options and fight for justice. Contact Ketterer, Browne & Davani LLC today for a free consultation.