Toxicology Reports Clear Indian Truck Driver of DUI in Fatal California Crash, Legal Charges Persist

New York authorities have clarified that Jashanpreet Singh, an Indian-origin truck driver involved in a fatal crash in California, was not intoxicated at the time of the incident, contrary to initial reports.

Singh, 21, from Yuba City, was arrested on October 21 following a multi-vehicle collision that claimed three lives and left several others with serious injuries in Ontario, California. He was initially charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and driving under the influence causing injury.

According to an updated complaint filed last week, toxicology reports confirmed no tested substances were present in Singh's bloodstream. Despite this finding, prosecutors maintain the case remains "a grossly negligent homicide."

The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office has revised charges to include three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and a new charge of "reckless driving on a highway causing a specified injury."

Evidence from eyewitnesses and dashcam footage showed Singh's vehicle traveling at high speed into stopped traffic. San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson described the incident as "a heinous tragedy" that was "easily avoidable if the defendant was not driving in a grossly negligent manner."

Authorities have denied bail for Singh, citing the severity of the offense and flight risk concerns. Reports indicate Singh entered the United States illegally across the southern border in 2022 and was subsequently released pending an immigration hearing.

This incident marks the second fatal crash involving an Indian-origin truck driver since August. On August 12, Harjinder Singh, 28, allegedly caused a deadly crash in Florida after making an illegal U-turn with his tractor-trailer, resulting in three fatalities. He faces three counts of vehicular homicide.

Following these incidents, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a temporary suspension of commercial truck driver work visa issuances, stating that "the increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers."