A semi-truck driver from India, who is reportedly in the U.S. illegally, has been released on a $100,000 bail following charges related to a crash that resulted in the death of a 29-year-old man in Washington state.
According to reports, Kamalpreet Singh was released from King County Jail, though it remains uncertain if the facility overlooked any complaints from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding him. Notably, Washington is considered a sanctuary state.
Tricia McLaughlin, an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, expressed strong criticism of the state’s sanctuary policies and the response from the Biden administration concerning the accident. She stated that such “dangerous” policies could have fatal outcomes and questioned how many lives might be lost before political leaders prioritize public safety over partisanship.
Singh was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Arizona after illegally entering the U.S. on December 23, 2023, but was released without charges, according to ICE officials. He faces vehicular homicide charges after crashing into a car on State Route 167, which ultimately led to the vehicle being pinned by another truck, resulting in the death of Robert B. Pearson.
The report indicates that Singh’s truck collided with a Mazda parked behind a Peterbilt truck, pushing it underneath. A fire erupted in the Mazda, but thankfully, it was quickly put out. Interestingly, neither Singh nor the Peterbilt driver sustained any injuries. The Washington State Patrol has stated that drugs or alcohol were not factors in the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.
Interestingly, Singh does not appear to be connected to two other undocumented Indian truck drivers with the same surname implicated in separate fatal accidents, one in California and another in Florida.
