The deadly collision occurred Tuesday afternoon on the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 near the Interstate 15 interchange in Ontario. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), traffic had slowed when a Freightliner tractor-trailer barreled into multiple vehicles without braking, triggering a fiery chain reaction that involved at least eight cars and big rigs. Dashcam footage from nearby vehicles captured the horrifying moment the semi plowed into traffic, igniting a fireball that sent thick black smoke rising above the freeway. One witness told local outlets that the driver appeared to make no effort to stop. “He was going so fast,” the witness said according to FOX11. “There was no chance for anyone in those cars.”

Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Four others were rushed to nearby hospitals with injuries ranging from moderate to critical. Their identities have not yet been released pending family notification.

CHP officials confirmed that the driver of the semi, identified as Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old from Yuba City, was arrested at the scene. Singh now faces multiple felony charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of drugs causing injury. He is being held at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

Investigators say Singh’s 18-wheeler slammed into stopped traffic at full speed, setting off a violent domino effect that crushed several vehicles between the semis. Fuel spilled across the roadway, and at least one car erupted in flames, prompting firefighters to battle the blaze for nearly an hour before it was contained. The California Highway Patrol described the crash as “catastrophic” and said preliminary findings indicate Singh was under the influence at the time.

Questions have also been raised about Singh’s driving record and commercial licensing status. Public records indicate he was licensed in California, though federal authorities are now reviewing whether proper safety and training protocols were followed. The crash has renewed debate over highway safety and the rigorous standards required for commercial drivers. Trucking advocacy groups have long warned that driver shortages and high turnover rates have pushed some companies to hire less-experienced drivers to meet delivery demands.

In recent years, the number of Indian and Indian-American truck drivers in the United States has surged, particularly among the Punjabi Sikh community. Reports suggest that Punjabis now make up roughly 20% of the U.S. trucking industry, according to the North American Punjabi Trucking Association. Other sources estimate that around 150,000 Sikhs are involved in trucking, including as drivers, owners, and logistics operators, with as many as 30,000 joining the industry over the past two years.