California, November 4 — Authorities in California have confirmed that an Indian-origin truck driver accused of killing three people in a highway crash last month was not intoxicated at the time, though the case remains a grossly negligent homicide.
Jashanpreet Singh, 21, of Yuba City, was arrested on October 21 and initially charged with driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence after his semi-truck slammed into stopped traffic in Ontario, California.
An updated complaint filed last week said toxicology tests showed no trace of alcohol or drugs in Singh’s blood. “However, the case remains a grossly negligent homicide,” the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office said.
Eyewitnesses and dashcam footage showed Singh driving at high speed before the collision. Authorities said the impact killed three people and seriously injured others.
District Attorney Jason Anderson called the crash a “heinous tragedy that was easily avoidable” and confirmed prosecutors will continue to seek no bail, citing flight risk and the seriousness of the offence.
Singh, who crossed the US-Mexico border illegally in 2022, was released pending an immigration hearing. This is the second such case involving an Indian-origin truck driver in the US since August.
