Truck Driver Charged in Fatal Oregon Crash
The truck driver involved in a tragic accident that resulted in the deaths of a newlywed couple in Oregon is reportedly an undocumented immigrant holding a commercial driver’s license issued in California, as stated by federal authorities.
Rajinder Kumar, 32, originally from India, was arrested after his semi-truck jackknifed and struck a vehicle in Bend on November 24, leading to the deaths of William Carter and his wife, Jennifer Lauer.
On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security disclosed that an immigration detainer complaint had been filed, indicating that Kumar had been released by the Biden administration and is currently in the U.S. illegally.
Federal officials noted that he was granted a commercial driver’s license in California and work authorization earlier this year, in 2023.
Kumar’s case aligns with a pattern of incidents involving undocumented immigrants and fatal crashes, as reported by immigration officials.
“Rajinder Kumar, an undocumented immigrant from India, was allowed into our country under the Biden administration and subsequently received a commercial driver’s license from the office of Governor Gavin Newsom,” stated DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
She raised concerns, asking, “How many more tragedies are needed before politicians in sanctuary states reconsider allowing undocumented immigrants to drive large trucks on our highways?”
Expressing condolences, McLaughlin said, “My thoughts are with the families of William and Jennifer. Under Secretary Noem, ICE will persist in efforts to remove undocumented truck drivers from American roads.”
This incident follows another case in which Harjinder Singh, an undocumented immigrant, was arrested in August after being involved in a shipwreck in Florida that claimed three lives.
In the same month, Partap Singh, also an undocumented immigrant from India, allegedly caused a multi-vehicle collision in California that left a 5-year-old with severe injuries.
Additionally, in October, another undocumented immigrant, Jashanpreet Singh, was apprehended after a suspected drunk driving incident that resulted in three fatalities in California.
