Undocumented Driver Charged in Fatal Crash

A semi-truck driver has been arrested following a crash that resulted in the death of a 29-year-old man in Washington state. The driver, identified as Kamalpreet Singh, is reportedly an undocumented immigrant from India. He had previously been apprehended and subsequently released at the Arizona border by federal authorities.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Singh was arrested on December 23, 2023, by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Lukeville, Arizona after entering the United States illegally. However, he was released without detention.

Singh now faces charges of vehicular homicide. The incident occurred on State Route 167, where he crashed into the rear of a Mazda sedan, pushing it under a nearby truck and causing the death of the Mazda’s driver, Robert B. Pearson.

As reported by the Auburn Examiner, Singh’s truck struck the Mazda, which was stationary behind another vehicle. Following the impact, a fire ignited in the engine compartment of the car but was extinguished quickly.

Fortunately, neither Singh nor the driver of the truck was injured. Investigators from the Washington State Patrol have indicated that drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors in the accident, though they continue to investigate its cause.

ICE has since taken Singh into custody following his involvement in the collision, and efforts to gather comments from local police are underway.

Interestingly, Singh is not connected to two other undocumented Indian truck drivers with the same last name who are facing charges in unrelated fatal accidents.