URGENT UPDATE: A 21-year-old truck driver, Jashanpreet Singh, has been charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter following a tragic crash on the 10 Freeway in Ontario, California, that resulted in the deaths of three people. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office confirmed today that Singh was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the devastating incident.
At approximately 1:10 p.m. on October 21, 2023, Singh was driving a Freightliner semitruck when he failed to stop for slowed traffic near the 15 Freeway interchange. His actions triggered a catastrophic chain-reaction crash involving four commercial trucks and four other vehicles. The deceased victims include 76-year-old Clarence Nelson and his 69-year-old wife, Lisa Nelson, both from Fontana. The third victim, identified as Jaime Flores Garcia, remains unnamed.
The DA’s office stated that toxicology reports confirmed no substances were present in Singh’s blood at the time of the crash, leading to the removal of a DUI charge from the complaint. He now faces an additional count of reckless driving causing injury, with two individuals, Juan Chavez Alvarez and Tamara Lynn Gay, reported injured in the incident.
The Nelsons’ family is mourning the loss of a beloved figure; Clarence was a former assistant basketball coach at Pomona High School. The emotional impact of this crash resonates deeply within the community, highlighting the tragic consequences of traffic negligence.
Singh, originally from India, entered the U.S. through the southern border in 2022 and has applied for asylum. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued a detainer, ensuring that federal authorities will be notified prior to his release from custody.
As this case develops, authorities and the community are left grappling with the aftermath of this avoidable tragedy. The next court date for Singh remains to be announced, and many are watching closely as the legal proceedings unfold.
Stay tuned for further updates on this critical story as more details emerge.
