NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Ontario, CA, October 23, 2025: A 21-year-old truck driver, Jashanpreet Singh, who was an undocumented immigrant working as a commercial driver, has been arrested following a multi-vehicle crash on the westbound Interstate 10 freeway in Ontario that left three people dead and several others injured. Investigators allege that Singh was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash. The tragic accident, which occurred on October 21, has reignited debates on road safety, commercial-driver oversight, and immigration enforcement.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Singh was driving a semi-truck westbound on the I-10 when he allegedly failed to slow down as traffic ahead came to a halt, setting off a chain-reaction collision involving eight vehicles, including four semi-trucks. The impact sparked a massive fire, engulfing several cars and trucks in flames.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, where three victims were pronounced dead. Among them were a former Pomona High School basketball coach and his wife, according to local reports. Several others sustained non-fatal injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals.
Singh was taken into custody and has been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury. Authorities have not yet released details of the substance allegedly involved.
According to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Singh entered the U.S. illegally through the southern border in 2022 and was released pending immigration proceedings. Following the crash, ICE lodged a detainer to prevent his release from custody should he post bail.
The incident has prompted widespread outrage and political commentary, particularly after it emerged that Singh was an undocumented immigrant working as a commercial driver. Federal officials have faced renewed scrutiny over border enforcement and oversight of trucking companies that employ immigrant drivers.
Community members in the Ontario and Pomona areas mourned the victims as memorials appeared near the crash site. The tragedy has also raised questions about commercial-driver licensing standards, given Singh’s age and the lack of public information about his employer or formal truck-driving credentials.
In a statement, the California Highway Patrol called the crash “one of the most devastating multi-vehicle collisions in recent memory.” Officials added that the investigation remains active, focusing on mechanical inspections of the truck and Singh’s employment records.
Meanwhile, Sikh community representatives in Yuba City urged the public not to rush to judgment based on Singh’s ethnicity, emphasizing that the case should be viewed through the lens of individual accountability rather than collective blame.
Singh remains in custody as the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office prepares formal charges. Court proceedings are expected to begin later this week.
Cover photo by @karakulii/X.
