He came to the United States in search of a better life. But 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh ’s pursuit of the American dream ended this week after the Indian-origin truck driver, while intoxicated, caused a fiery crash in Southern California that killed at least three people.
His best friend, Gurjot Malhar, told CBS Sacramento that Singh had struggled to make ends meet since arriving. “Coming from India, it’s gonna be hard to make dollars here. … So, he wanted to keep going,” Malhar said, remembering him as “an amazing guy” who “always talked with love and care.”
For Malhar, the tragedy is deeply personal. “He’s an amazing guy,” he said. “He would talk normally, happily, always with love and care.”
Authorities said Singh’s 18-wheeler truck ploughed into slow-moving traffic on Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County, causing an eight-vehicle pile-up that left the scene engulfed in flames. Dashcam footage showed he never hit the brakes before the crash. Toxicology tests later confirmed that Singh was under the influence, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Federal sources told Fox News that Singh, who is from India, crossed the southern US border illegally in March 2022 through California’s El Centro Sector. He was released into the country under the Biden administration’s “alternatives to detention” policy, pending an immigration hearing. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Singh does not have lawful immigration status, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has now lodged a detainer against him.
The crash has reignited debate over commercial licensing and immigration enforcement . Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently criticised California for not enforcing federal English proficiency rules for truck drivers, warning that over $40 million in federal highway funds could be withheld.
The tragedy also mirrors another incident earlier this year involving Harjinder Singh, an Indian national who entered the US illegally in 2018 and was charged in a Florida crash that killed three people.
His best friend, Gurjot Malhar, told CBS Sacramento that Singh had struggled to make ends meet since arriving. “Coming from India, it’s gonna be hard to make dollars here. … So, he wanted to keep going,” Malhar said, remembering him as “an amazing guy” who “always talked with love and care.”
For Malhar, the tragedy is deeply personal. “He’s an amazing guy,” he said. “He would talk normally, happily, always with love and care.”
BREAKING: The deadly Ontario, CA, freeway crash that left three dead and several injured was caused by a 21-year-old criminal alien by the name Jashanpreet Singh who had been released by the Biden administration in 2022.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 23, 2025
pic.twitter.com/KXoIweUcNQ
Authorities said Singh’s 18-wheeler truck ploughed into slow-moving traffic on Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County, causing an eight-vehicle pile-up that left the scene engulfed in flames. Dashcam footage showed he never hit the brakes before the crash. Toxicology tests later confirmed that Singh was under the influence, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Federal sources told Fox News that Singh, who is from India, crossed the southern US border illegally in March 2022 through California’s El Centro Sector. He was released into the country under the Biden administration’s “alternatives to detention” policy, pending an immigration hearing. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Singh does not have lawful immigration status, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has now lodged a detainer against him.
The crash has reignited debate over commercial licensing and immigration enforcement . Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently criticised California for not enforcing federal English proficiency rules for truck drivers, warning that over $40 million in federal highway funds could be withheld.
The tragedy also mirrors another incident earlier this year involving Harjinder Singh, an Indian national who entered the US illegally in 2018 and was charged in a Florida crash that killed three people.
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