DHS
Illegal entry to deadly crash: Indian-origin man charged with homicide after fatal semi-truck crash in Oregon, DHS says
An Indian-origin man who authorities say entered the United States illegally has been charged with homicide and reckless endangering following a fatal crash involving a semi-truck in Deschutes County, Oregon, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The suspect has been identified as Rajinder Kumar. DHS said Kumar jackknifed his semi-truck and trailer on U.S. Highway 20, blocking both lanes of traffic. A Subaru Outback subsequently collided with the truck, killing both occupants of the car — driver William Micah Carter and passenger Jennifer Lynn Lower.
DHS said Kumar illegally entered the United States near Lukeville, Arizona, on November 28, 2022, and was later released into the country. The department added that Kumar was issued a commercial driver’s license in California and granted work authorization in 2023.
Kumar is currently being held at the Deschutes County jail and faces charges of criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangering.
In a statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the case raises concerns over the screening of commercial drivers. She added that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will continue efforts to remove unauthorized commercial vehicle operators from U.S. highways.
Separately, DHS cited several recent enforcement cases involving commercial truck drivers who were foreign nationals. In August, ICE lodged an arrest detainer for Harjinder Singh following his arrest on three counts of vehicular homicide in Florida. In another August case, ICE arrested Indian national Partap Singh in California after a multi-vehicle crash involving an 18-wheeler left a five-year-old child critically injured. In October, ICE lodged a detainer for Jashanpreet Singh in California after a fatal crash involving an 18-wheeler.
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