Authorities have identified 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh of Yuba City as the truck driver suspected of being under the influence when he caused a fatal eight-vehicle pileup on the I-10 Freeway in Ontario, California. The crash occurred around 1:10 PM on Tuesday near the 15 Freeway interchange, involving four semi-trucks, two pickup trucks, and two cars, resulting in three deaths and four injuries.
Multi-Vehicle Collision Caused by Singh
Investigators from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said traffic on the westbound lanes had slowed when Singh’s red tractor-trailer failed to stop, colliding with several vehicles and sparking a massive chain-reaction crash. Singh, allegedly under the influence of drugs, was arrested at the scene and later booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and DUI.
🚨 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh was arrested after a deadly chain-reaction crash on I-10 near I-15 that killed 3 & injured 4.
CHP says he never braked before impact. Two victims were burned beyond recognition. Singh faces DUI & manslaughter charges.#California #CHP pic.twitter.com/ptMtx4RRIs
— LoudFact (@loudfactcom) October 23, 2025
Witnesses Describe the Chaos
Witnesses described a scene of destruction.
“It didn’t stop. It didn’t swerve. It didn’t make any kind of maneuvers. It just went straight in,” said Jason Calmelat, who watched the crash unfold from a nearby parking lot, told NBC Los Angeles. “I saw the truck driver jump out because it was on fire.”
A dashcam video reportedly captured the moments leading up to the crash, showing the speeding truck plowing into slow-moving traffic. CHP confirmed the footage will be part of the official investigation.
CHP Officer Comments on Crash Severity
Officer Rodrigo Jimenez with CHP called the crash catastrophic: “It was one of those crashes where there were car parts everywhere. We had a hazardous material incident. It was a very large scene. This could have been prevented if somebody had been paying attention sober.”
Authorities have not released the victims’ names, as families are still being notified. Singh remains in custody awaiting formal charges.
BREAKING: Per multiple ICE sources, Jashanpreet Singh, the semi-truck driver suspected of killing three people in a DUI crash on the 10 freeway in Ontario, CA yesterday, is an Indian illegal alien who was caught & released at the CA border by the Biden admin in March 2022. DHS… pic.twitter.com/ewxt7ZGfJs
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) October 23, 2025
Singh’s Background and Immigration Status
Jashanpreet Singh, an Indian national, crossed the southern US border in 2022 and was first intercepted by Border Patrol agents in California’s El Centro Sector. He was later released under the federal “alternatives to detention” policy, allowing undocumented migrants to remain free while awaiting immigration hearings.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Singh has no lawful immigration status. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer following his arrest.
Crash Details: Dashcam and Drug Use
The deadly collision on the I-10 Freeway was captured on Singh’s Freightliner tractor-trailer dashcam. The footage reportedly shows the truck hitting an SUV, causing a fire that killed at least three people. Singh and a roadside mechanic assisting with a tire change were injured.
“He was eventually transported to the hospital, and he was checked out by the medical staff, and our officers determined he was driving under the influence of drugs,” said CHP Officer Rodrigo Jimenez, as quoted by ABC7 News.
Toxicology tests later confirmed Singh’s impairment at the time of the crash.
Legal Charges and Public Reaction
Singh faces gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. The incident has reignited debate over immigration and trucking safety, prompting comments from US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy:
“I put states on notice this summer: enforce the Trump Administration’s English language requirements or the checks stop coming. California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement. This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s road.”
