Officials have released the name of the semi-truck driver arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter after an eight-vehicle crash involving multiple big rigs killed three people and injured several others Tuesday, Oct. 21, on the 10 Freeway in Ontario.
Jashanpreet Singh, 21, of Yuba City, was booked on suspicion of felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter, according to the California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez said.
The crash occurred around 1:10 p.m. on the westbound 10 Freeway just west of 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.
Two of the victims were inside a vehicle that became engulfed in flames following the crash, Jimenez said. The third victim, a 54-year-old Upland man, was driving a pickup truck, authorities said. The names of the victims have not yet been released.
Four more people were transported to hospitals, including two with major injuries, Jimenez said.
In addition to the crash, fuel from the Freightliner spilled onto the dirt shoulder, resulting in a hazardous-materials incident, the CHP said.
A SigAlert closed all westbound lanes of the 10 west of the 15 for several hours Tuesday afternoon and evening as investigators and cleanup crews worked the scene.
The investigation remains ongoing.