UPDATE: California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is under intense scrutiny following a deadly crash involving illegal immigrant trucker Jashanpreet Singh, which left three people dead and four others injured on the 10 Freeway in San Bernardino County. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has accused California officials of unlawfully upgrading Singh’s commercial license just weeks after a federal rule aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from obtaining such licenses took effect on September 26.
The crash occurred on October 23 when Singh’s semi-truck collided with slow-moving traffic, leading to a devastating multi-vehicle pileup. Dashcam footage captured the moment Singh’s red big rig crashed into an SUV, igniting a fire that resulted in multiple fatalities.
Duffy stated in a press release,
“My prayers are with the families of the victims of this tragedy. It would have never happened if Gavin Newsom had followed our new rules. California broke the law and now three people are dead and two are hospitalized. These people deserve justice. There will be consequences.”
Singh, initially issued a restricted Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) on June 27, was limited to intrastate travel. However, the California DMV lifted his driving restrictions on October 15—his birthday—without adhering to the stricter standards mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). This action occurred despite the USDOT’s notification of “significant compliance failures” regarding the issuance of trucker licenses.
The recent developments raise serious questions about the DMV’s practices and the implications for public safety. Duffy emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating,
“The USDOT’s emergency rule was issued to explicitly prevent drivers like Singh from getting behind the wheel of commercial motor vehicles.”
As the investigation unfolds, federal authorities have issued an arrest detainer for Singh, signaling that he may face additional legal repercussions. The tragic incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability regarding the state’s compliance with federal regulations.
The community is left to grapple with the loss as families mourn the victims. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when regulatory standards are not upheld.
Moving forward, readers are urged to stay informed as further updates and investigations are expected in the coming days. Authorities are under pressure to ensure that such tragedies do not happen again, and the public awaits responses from Governor Newsom and the DMV regarding their handling of this critical situation.
