Jashanpreet Singh, 21, of Yuba City, was identified by the California Highway Patrol as the driver of the Freightliner tractor-trailer involved in the Oct. 21 multi-vehicle crash on westbound Interstate 10 near Ontario. Designed by Freepik, www.freepik.com

 

ONTARIO, CA (MPG) - Authorities have identified the driver involved in Tuesday’s, Oct. 21, deadly chain-reaction crash on Interstate 10 in Ontario as Jashanpreet Singh, 21, of Yuba City. Singh was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and vehicular manslaughter, according to a statement released Wednesday by the California Highway Patrol Rancho Cucamonga Area.

The collision occurred shortly after 1:10 p.m. on Oct. 21 when traffic slowed or stopped on the westbound lanes of I-10, just west of Interstate 15. Investigators say Singh, driving a Freightliner tractor-trailer combination, failed to stop in time, triggering a chain reaction that ultimately involved eight vehicles, including four commercial trucks.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene. At least four others suffered injuries ranging from minor to major and were transported to local hospitals for treatment, officials said. The impact caused a fuel spill from Singh’s truck that led to a hazardous-materials response and forced the closure of several westbound lanes for hours.

“This tragic crash serves as a reminder of the importance of sober driving,” said Capt. Salvador Suárez, commander of the CHP Rancho Cucamonga Area, in the release. “The California Highway Patrol urges all motorists to remain alert, obey posted speed limits, and exercise caution to help prevent future crashes.”

Singh was booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, authorities confirmed. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had lodged an arrest detainer against Singh, who officials said entered the United States illegally in 2022. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security described him as “a criminal illegal alien” and confirmed that he remains in custody following the fatal crash.

In a formal statement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “It is a terrible tragedy — three innocent people lost their lives due to the reckless open-border policies that allowed an illegal alien to be released into the U.S. and drive an 18-wheeler on America’s highways. This accident follows a disturbing trend of illegal aliens driving 18-wheelers and semi-trucks on America’s roads.”

The DHS release also noted Singh’s prior arrest in Washington state for driving under the influence in 2023.

The CHP’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) continues to investigate the circumstances of Tuesday’s crash. Anyone with information is urged to contact Officer C. Gonzalez at the CHP Rancho Cucamonga Area office at (909) 980-3994 or PIO Rodrigo Jiménez at [email protected].

Sources: California Highway Patrol – Rancho Cucamonga Area (Oct. 21 News Release), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Oct. 23 News Release).