21-year-old Indian national Jashanpreet Singh was arrested after a fatal semi-truck crash in Ontario, California, that left three dead and four injured
A 21-year-old Indian national, Jashanpreet Singh, has been arrested in connection with a tragic semi-truck crash in Ontario, California, which claimed three lives and injured four others, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, Singh had entered the United States illegally and was allegedly driving under the influence at the time of the accident. The crash has drawn attention to the rising number of immigration-linked road incidents in the US involving unlicensed or undocumented drivers.
Friend Remembers Jashanpreet as Cheerful and Hardworking
Speaking to US media, Singh’s friend Gurjot Malhar described him as “kind, cheerful, and always willing to help others.”
Malhar said Singh had come to America hoping for a better future and had taken up truck driving as a way to improve his life and support his family back in India.
Singh’s friend says he came to the US with dreams of a better life, only to face hardship and tragedy.
However, Malhar added that Singh’s life in the US had been far from easy. “He thought things would be simpler here, but the struggle to make ends meet was real. He wanted stability, not trouble,” he said.
Authorities Probe License Validity and Policy Implications
Investigators are now working to determine whether Singh held a valid commercial driver’s license at the time of the crash. The case has also reignited debate following the US government’s decision in August to halt the issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers, a move that has complicated the legal employment process for many immigrant drivers.
The incident has sparked discussions within the Indian diaspora community in California, many of whom say young migrants like Singh often find themselves under immense pressure to earn quickly, leading to unsafe choices on the road.
