ONTARIO, Calif. (BN240 — Authorities have arrested a twenty-one-year-old driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and vehicular manslaughter after a deadly chain-reaction crash on the 10 Freeway in Ontario, California, that killed three people and injured at least four others.
Jashanpreet Singh of Yuba City in Northern California was identified as the driver of a Freightliner tractor-trailer combination that slammed into slow-moving vehicles stuck in traffic Tuesday afternoon on the westbound 10 Freeway, just east of the 15 Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Singh has been booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga and is reportedly awaiting charges for vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of drugs.
The violent crash was captured on dashcam video obtained exclusively by ABC7. The video comes from the semitruck accused of causing the deadly crash. The footage shows the semitruck slamming into the back of an SUV before plowing into multiple other vehicles in the same lane. The video is now the subject of a law enforcement investigation.
“He was eventually transported to the hospital, and he was checked out by the medical staff, and our officers determined he was driving under the influence of drugs,” said CHP Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.
On Wednesday, one of the victims was identified as a fifty-four-year-old man from Upland. His name has not been released. The remaining two were severely burned in the crash and have not been identified.
“For us officers, it’s really horrific to see, not just the deceased person, but knowing that this person’s family is going to receive the worst possible news of their life,” Jimenez said.
The westbound lanes of the freeway were shut down for several hours Tuesday but have since reopened.
“This is sadly a reminder of how precious life is, and how fast it could be taken away at the hands of somebody who is driving irresponsibly, somebody who is impaired,” Jimenez said. “The hardest part is knowing that at least three of these individuals will not have a Christmas, will not make it home as we’re getting to the holiday season.”
CHP said investigators will be inspecting the semitruck to rule out any mechanical issues. They said the dashcam video makes it clear that no one cut in front of the truck driver. The incident remains under investigation.
Amid news of Singh’s arrest, an alleged photo of the driver has surfaced online. The alleged image was shared by several social media accounts on X. In the alleged photo, a vehicle can be seen completely destroyed in the background. A man is seen sitting with long hair and a reddish shirt in the alleged photo that was shared. He is wearing shorts and is seemingly identified as the driver.
Authorities, while confirming Singh’s identity to KTLA, have not shared an official photo, and there is no mugshot available in the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department database.
The crash comes as California and other states grapple with concerns about commercial driver licensing standards and enforcement of drug and alcohol regulations for operators of large trucks. Federal regulations require commercial drivers to maintain strict standards regarding substance use, but enforcement varies by jurisdiction.
Commercial truck crashes involving impaired drivers have prompted calls for enhanced screening and monitoring of commercial license holders. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration maintains regulations designed to prevent impaired driving in commercial vehicles, but violations continue to occur.
The incident has raised questions about how Singh obtained or maintained his commercial driver’s license and whether proper screening procedures were followed. Investigators are examining his driving history and employment records as part of the ongoing investigation.
The deadly crash highlights ongoing safety concerns on California’s heavily trafficked freeways, where commercial trucks share lanes with passenger vehicles during congested conditions. Traffic safety advocates have long warned about the particular dangers posed by impaired commercial drivers operating large vehicles.
Authorities said the investigation will include toxicology reports to determine what substances may have been in Singh’s system at the time of the crash. The results could take several weeks to complete and will be critical to any criminal prosecution.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office will review the investigation before determining what formal charges to file against Singh. Vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated can carry significant prison time under California law, particularly when multiple deaths result from a single incident.
