Man Accused in California Pile-Up Pleads Not Guilty

LOS ANGELES (NewsNation) — A 21-year-old man, alleged to be in the U.S. illegally, has entered a not guilty plea to several charges related to a fatal truck accident in California.

Jashanpreet Singh, from Yuba City, was arrested on suspicions of drug-impaired driving and vehicular manslaughter while under the influence.

Dashcam footage shows Singh’s truck crashing into stationary vehicles on westbound Interstate 10 shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, which is now the focus of a California Highway Patrol investigation.

The California Highway Patrol reported that stopped traffic caused Singh’s Freightliner to collide, resulting in a chain reaction involving eight vehicles, including three other trucks. This led to significant delays on the busy interstate.

The Department of Homeland Security labeled Singh as a “criminal alien” from India, stating he entered the U.S. illegally through the southern border in 2022 and was released during the Biden administration.

This situation reignited discussions about who should be eligible for commercial driver’s licenses. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has expressed concerns similar to those raised following a previous deadly crash involving an undocumented driver in Florida.

Among those who perished in the recent crash were Clarence and Lisa Nelson. Clarence was a former assistant basketball coach known for his contributions to Pomona High and Rancho Cucamonga High. Four additional individuals were reported to have sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe.

During his court appearance, Singh remained emotionally detached and a scheduled follow-up hearing is set for November 4.

NewsNation affiliate KTLA in Los Angeles assisted with this report.