A chain-reaction crash involving multiple vehicles occurred on the 10 Freeway in Ontario, California, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, resulting in three fatalities and several injuries. The driver of a semi-truck, identified as 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh of Yuba City, California, has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Singh is suspected of driving under the influence of drugs at the time of the collision. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Singh's truck plowed into slow-moving traffic without braking, leading to an eight-vehicle pileup that included four commercial vehicles. Dashcam footage has emerged showing the truck colliding with vehicles ahead, and flames erupted from at least one passenger car.
The crash has led to felony charges against Singh, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of drugs causing injury. He is currently being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in San Bernardino. His initial court hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that Singh is an Indian national who is in the United States illegally. According to reports, he crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in March 2022 and was released into the country pending an immigration hearing. ICE has reportedly lodged an immigration detainer following his arrest.
The incident has ignited a debate over commercial driver licensing standards, particularly for non-citizens. It has also drawn attention to California's policies regarding undocumented immigrants and driver's licenses. California's Assembly Bill 60, enacted in 2015, allows undocumented immigrants to apply for a driver's license if they can provide proof of identity and California residency. These licenses are marked "not for federal identification".
This crash comes on the heels of another incident in Florida involving an Indian national, Harjinder Singh, who was also in the U.S. illegally and had a California commercial driver's license. Harjinder Singh was involved in a fatal crash in August.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has criticized California for not enforcing federal English proficiency requirements for truck drivers. He has warned that the federal government would withhold highway safety funds as a result.
The victims of the crash included Clarence Nelson, a former Pomona High School assistant basketball coach, and his wife, Lisa. The high school posted a memorial to the couple.
CHP is investigating the crash, including whether Singh was driving with a valid commercial driver's license and if there were any mechanical issues with the semi-truck.
