Three people were killed and four others injured in a horrific collision in California, which was captured on camera. The fiery multi-vehicle crash occurred earlier this week when a truck driver was reportedly driving under the influence.
While travelling along the 10 Freeway in Ontario, the driver, identified as 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh, struck multiple vehicles, causing a chain-reaction crash that involved eight vehicles. Authorities say the crash took place around 1:10 p.m. on Tuesday when Singh’s semi-truck failed to stop as traffic slowly came to a stop on the westbound lanes.
According to eyewitness reports and dashcam footage, the truck appeared to be travelling at speed along the freeway before slamming into several vehicles, including three semi-trucks, two pickup trucks, and two passenger cars. The impact sparked a massive fire, scattering debris and vehicle parts across the freeway. Among the victims were a Pomona High School basketball coach and his wife, both confirmed dead by the school.
Their names have not yet been released, and the identity of the third person killed also remains unknown. The injured victims, including a mechanic who was helping to change a tyre on the road at the time of the accident, were transported to the hospital. Singh, who also suffered injuries, was treated before ultimately being arrested. One witness, Jason Calmelat, described the moment as a big explosion, recalling how the red semi-truck “didn’t stop, didn’t swerve…it just went straight in.”
Calmelat said the truck eventually rolled and veered into an embankment before catching fire, forcing the driver to jump out to escape the flames. Singh is now facing three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of driving under the influence causing injury. Authorities confirmed that he did not possess a valid commercial licence to operate in California.
The Department of Homeland Security said Singh, an Indian national, entered the United States through the southern border in 2022 and was later released into the country. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has since lodged a detainer request for him. “This could have been prevented if somebody had been paying attention sober,” said Officer Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol, who described the scene as “very large” and “hazardous.” Singh remains in custody without bail and is expected to appear in court in Rancho Cucamonga.
