Indian Truck Driver Charged With Homicide After Fatal Crash: A Rising Safety Concern on US Highways

Both victims William Carter and Jennifer Lower were pronounced dead at the accident scene while the truck driver Rajinder Kumar escaped without injuries.

A 32-year-old Indian national who illegally entered the United States three years ago faces homicide charges after a deadly collision involving the semi-truck he was operating resulted in two fatalities.

Rajinder Kumar has been charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangering following the crash that claimed the lives of William Micah Carter, 25, and Jennifer Lynn Lower, 24.

According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a detention order has been placed for Kumar by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Oregon State Police responded to the two-vehicle collision in Deschutes County on November 24. Initial investigation revealed that Kumar's freightliner commercial vehicle and trailer had jackknifed, completely blocking both travel lanes. Carter's vehicle struck the perpendicular trailer at highway speeds.

Carter and Lower were pronounced dead at the crash site, while Kumar reportedly sustained no injuries.

"The investigation at the scene closed the highway for approximately seven hours. Darkness and the absence of active emergency warning equipment are considered primary factors contributing to the collision," stated the Oregon State Police.

Kumar was subsequently arrested on charges of Criminally Negligent Homicide and Reckless Endangering and was booked into the Deschutes County Jail.

DHS officials described Kumar as a "criminal illegal" from India who entered the United States unlawfully near Lukeville, Arizona, on November 28, 2022.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that Kumar "was released into our country under the Biden administration and issued a commercial driver's license by Gavin Newsom's Department of Motor Vehicles. How many more senseless tragedies must take place before sanctuary politicians stop allowing illegal aliens to dangerously operate semi-trucks on America's roads."

This incident marks the fourth case in recent months involving Indian nationals who entered the US illegally and were subsequently involved in serious or fatal highway accidents while operating commercial trucks.

In August, ICE issued an arrest detainer for Harjinder Singh following his arrest on three counts of vehicular homicide while driving a semi-truck in Florida. That same month, ICE arrested Partap Singh, whose commercial 18-wheeler caused a multi-car pileup in California, leaving 5-year-old Dalilah Coleman with critical, life-altering injuries.

In October, ICE filed an arrest detainer for Jashanpreet Singh after he killed three people in California while operating an 18-wheeler under the influence.