DUI charge dropped against truck driver in deadly California crash

(NewsNation) — A DUI charge against the driver accused in a deadly eight-car pileup in California has been dropped after toxicology tests were negative for drugs or alcohol.

Authorities said a semitrailer driven by Jashanpreet Singh, 21, crashed into several vehicles traveling in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 10 in Ontario on Oct. 21. The crash left three people dead. Singh was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

In a statement Oct. 31, the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office said "toxicology reports confirmed none of the substances tested were present in the defendant's blood at the time the test was rendered" and that an amended complaint was filed to "reflect the findings."

Dashcam video recovered by authorities shows the semitrailer slamming into the back of an SUV before hitting several other cars.

Early this week, Singh pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and reckless driving, according to KABC. His defense has maintained the crash was a tragic accident, but the prosecution has argued that Singh's actions were reckless.

In October, the Department of Homeland Security accused Singh, who is an Indian national, of being a “criminal alien." Singh entered the country illegally through the southern border in 2022 and was released through a Biden administration program that paroled immigrants waiting for hearings into the country instead of housing them in detention, the agency said.

The crash prompted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to restate previous concerns about who should be able to obtain commercial driver’s licenses. Duffy and President Donald Trump have both pressed the issue after a separate deadly crash in Florida, in which another Indian national is accused of making an illegal U-turn.

According to KABC, Singh obtained his commercial driver’s license through both California and federal processes in place at the time, and Department of Motor Vehicles records show he had a valid license at the time of the crash.

Singh is due in court Nov. 6 for a preliminary hearing and remains in custody without bail.