Background of the Incident
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have filed an arrest detainer for a semi-truck driver who was arrested for driving under the influence following a deadly crash on the 10 Freeway in Ontario, California. The incident has sparked a broader discussion about immigration, legal employment, and the responsibilities of states when issuing commercial driver's licenses.
According to ICE, the driver, 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh, is an Indian national who entered the U.S. by crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in 2022. He resides in Yuba City, California, which is located in Sutter County, approximately 120 miles northeast of San Francisco. However, California transportation officials have stated that the federal government approved Singh’s Employment Authorization Documents, which allowed him to receive a federal REAL ID confirming his legal status. These documents were extended multiple times, from April 24, 2025, to October 16, 2026, and then again to August 18, 2030.
"The state does not determine commercial driver's license eligibility," the California State Transportation Agency wrote in a post to X. "The FEDERAL government approves and renews all FEDERAL employment authorization documents that allows individuals to work and obtain commercial driver's licenses."
CBS LA reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for clarification on the situation.
Details of the Crash
Singh was arrested on Tuesday by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers in connection with an eight-vehicle collision that included four commercial vehicles. The crash left three people dead and four others hospitalized in varying conditions. All of the victims were adults, as confirmed by Ontario Fire Department crews.
San Bernardino County jail records show that Singh remains detained on Wednesday night at the West Valley Detention Center in San Bernardino without bail. He has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, causing bodily injury, and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He is expected to appear in court on Friday at the Rancho Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga.
Personal Account from a Friend
CBS Sacramento reporters spoke with Singh’s best friend, Gurjot Malhar, on Wednesday evening. Malhar shared insights into Singh’s life and motivations. He described Singh as an amazing person who always spoke happily and with care. According to Malhar, Singh came to the U.S. in search of a better life.
“He's an amazing guy. ... He would talk normally, happily, always with love and care,” Malhar said. “Coming from India, it's gonna be hard to make dollars here. ... So, he wanted to keep going.”
It is unclear if Singh currently has legal representation. CHP officers told CBS LA that they are investigating whether Singh was driving with a valid commercial driver's license at the time of the crash.
Broader Implications
In August, the U.S. government stopped issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers. At the time, a State Department spokesperson said the pause was put in place "in order to conduct a comprehensive and thorough review of screening and vetting protocols used to determine the qualifications for a U.S. visa."
"As we have seen with recent deadly accidents, foreign truckers can pose risks to American lives, U.S. national security, and foreign policy interests," the State Department spokesperson said. "Ensuring that every driver on our roads meets the highest standards is important to protecting the livelihoods of American truckers and maintaining a secure, resilient supply chain."
Legal Actions Against States
California and Washington were sued by Florida last week for a crash that happened in August, which left three people dead after the driver of a semi-truck attempted to perform an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike in St. Lucie County. The driver in that crash, Harjinder Singh, also entered the U.S. illegally and obtained a commercial driver's license from California, as reported by U.S. Marshals to CBS News Miami in September.
The lawsuit alleges that both states have failed to comply with federal safety and immigration-status requirements when issuing commercial driver's licenses. The suit claims that California and Washington "chose to ignore these standards and authorize illegal immigrants without proper training or the ability to read road signs to drive commercial motor vehicles."
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