Ontario, California, Oct 23: A devastating crash on California’s Interstate 10 Freeway left three people dead and several others injured after a speeding semi-truck, allegedly driven by 21-year-old Indian-origin driver Jashanpreet Singh, plowed into traffic and triggered a massive fireball.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the collision occurred on Tuesday afternoon when Singh failed to brake in time as vehicles slowed in congestion. “The impact caused an immediate blaze involving multiple vehicles,” officers said. Witnesses described the scene as “an explosion of flames and twisted metal.”
Authorities said Singh was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash. He was arrested on-site and later booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on charges including vehicular manslaughter and DUI.
Media reports have since claimed that Singh, who hails from Yuba City, entered the United States as an undocumented immigrant and was released by border officials in 2022. The report, carried by Fox News, has added to the growing debate on immigration and trucking safety regulations.
The tragedy has triggered online outrage, with social media users demanding stricter checks on drivers operating heavy vehicles. “This was a preventable loss of life,” one user wrote.
Authorities are continuing their investigation and have not yet identified the deceased victims.
