Northern California man accused of causing collisions that killed 3 on the 10 Freeway was in the country illegally, fed officials say

Federal authorities have lodged an immigration detainer for the truck driver accused of causing Tuesday’s eight-vehicle10 Freeway crash on the 10 Freeway in Ontario that killed three people, including a former Pomona High School coach and his wife, they said on Thursday, Oct. 23.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office announced, also on Thursday, Oct. 23, that Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old from Yuba City, is charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of DUI causing injury.

The Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday that Singh, originally from India, entered the United States in 2022 and is in the country unlawfully.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged the detainer, signalling that federal authorities should be notified before Singh is released from local custody. They asked that he be held for up to 48 hours beyond his scheduled release so federal officers can assume custody.

Two victims were identified as Clarence Nelson, a former assistant basketball coach at Pomona High School, and his wife, according to a post by the school. The couple was in a vehicle that became engulfed in flames.

The third victim, a 54-year-old Upland man, was driving a pickup truck, authorities said. His name had not yet been publicly released.

The crash occurred around 1:10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, on the westbound 10 Freeway near the 15 Freeway.

Investigators said Singh, driving a Freightliner semi-truck, failed to stop as traffic slowed — triggering a chain-reaction collision involving four commercial big rigs and four other vehicles.

Four other people were hospitalized, including two with major injuries, said Rodrigo Jimenez, who is an officer and a spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol.