**Truck Driver’s DUI Charge Dropped in Deadly Ontario Crash; Faces Manslaughter and Reckless Driving Charges**
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — The initial DUI charge against the truck driver involved in last month’s deadly eight-vehicle pileup in Ontario has been dropped. Toxicology results returned negative for drugs or alcohol. Jashanpreet Singh, 21, appeared in a Rancho Cucamonga courtroom on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to new charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and reckless driving. The fiery crash claimed the lives of three people, including a Pomona High School basketball coach and his wife.
Defense attorney Jason Tucker describes the incident as a tragic accident, emphasizing that Singh was not intoxicated at the time. “There is no intoxication which makes him significantly less of a danger to the community,” said Tucker of the San Bernardino County Public Defender’s Office.
Eyewitness News obtained dash camera video capturing Singh’s semitruck plowing into several stopped vehicles along the 10 Freeway. Singh’s public defender urged the judge to set bail, focusing on the driver’s clean record and lack of flight risk. “This is not something that’s done on purpose. Notably, he is 21 years old. He has no record, and there is no indication that he is a flight risk,” Tucker said.
However, the prosecution disagreed, arguing Singh’s actions behind the wheel were reckless and resulted in deadly consequences. “The defendant indicated that he saw the stopped and slowing traffic in front of him and continued to drive, and that is the evidence we have,” said Jamie Cimino with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. “Three people died, many others were severely injured. One of the victims was so severely injured that every single day after the accident for approximately a week, she had major surgeries.”
The prosecution also raised concerns about Singh’s immigration status, suggesting his limited time in the U.S. made him a possible flight risk. Judge Peel ultimately denied bail, ruling Singh posed a potential risk to the community due to his reckless actions. Singh is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 6 for a preliminary hearing.
**How Did Singh Obtain His Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)?**
Singh received his CDL through state and federal processes that were in effect at the time. These policies, however, changed on a federal level on Sept. 26, just over a month before the deadly crash.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued an immigration arrest detainer for Singh, claiming he entered the U.S. illegally from India in 2022. According to Department of Motor Vehicles records, Singh held a valid CDL permitting him to operate a semitruck.
A recent Department of Transportation (DOT) report accuses California of violating federal law by allowing Singh to continue driving when he should have been disqualified. The report cites California’s failure to enforce an emergency rule, issued in September, that tightened licensing requirements for non-U.S. citizens. In June, Singh, an asylum seeker, was issued a restricted, non-domiciled CDL with a “K” restriction, limiting him to in-state driving. In September, the federal government paused all issuances of non-domiciled CDLs. After Singh turned 21 in October, the “K” restriction was removed.
According to DOT officials, Singh’s license should have been denied under the new rule due to his status as an asylum seeker. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office responded, stating, “The federal government approved and renewed this individual’s federal employment authorization multiple times, which allowed him to obtain a commercial driver’s license in accordance with federal law.” The California State Department of Transportation confirmed Singh was issued a federal work permit valid through 2030.
The DOT is now threatening to withhold nearly $40 million in funding for California if the state does not start enforcing the new federal rules established in September.
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*This is a developing story. Check back for updates as Singh’s case moves through the court system.*
https://abc7chicago.com/post/dui-charge-dropped-jashanpreet-singh-semitruck-driver-deadly-10-freeway-crash-ontario-california/18116562/
