The man who crashed his tractor-trailer into other vehicles Tuesday on a California highway—a wreck in which three people were killed—has been identified as Jashanpreet Singh, 21, who authorities say was under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident, KTLA 5 News reported.

Newsweek contacted the California Highway Patrol (CHP) via email seeking comment.

Why It Matters

The fiery California wreck comes weeks after a truck driver from India, who federal officials said was in the country illegally and using a California driving license, killed three people in Florida as he was making an illegal U-turn, police said.

The Florida crash triggered public outrage and launched a political storm between federal immigration authorities and California officials over license policies for undocumented immigrants. 

There was no information on the immigration status of the man involved in Tuesday’s crash and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

What To Know

Witnesses to the accident in California said the tractor-trailer with a red cab crashed into the back of several vehicles, including another big rig, before careening into another lane and striking several more. The aftermath was seen in video captured by Sky5 on scene.

KTLA cited the CHP as saying Singh did not apply his brakes as his rig bore down on the slow-moving vehicles ahead of him before the crash. He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Rodrigo Jimenez of the CHP told KTLA that two of the three people killed were in a vehicle that was so badly crushed and burned that investigators were unable to determine its make and model. The third victim was in a pickup truck.

Investigators are trying to determine if additional factors may have contributed to the accident, including the possibility of mechanical issues, KTLA reported.

“The fact that there are so many commercial vehicles involved in the crash, there’s a lot of weight behind the crash force,” Rodrigo said. “This is a very complex investigation and that’s why officers from our multi-disciplinary accident investigation team have taken over.”

A video purportedly from the dashcam of Singh’s rig was shared on social media and appeared to show the moments before the crash and the impacts on the slow-moving vehicles ahead of it.

Rodrigo confirmed to KTLA that the video will be part of the overall crash investigation. He urged any and all drivers on California roads to follow traffic laws, drive the speed limit and help each other prevent future unnecessary deaths.

The driver in the deadly crash in Florida on August 12, Harjinder Singh, 28, had a driver’s license issued in California, which triggered a political storm that has centered on conflicting claims about his work authorization, with federal officials maintaining he was in the country illegally when California issued his commercial driver’s license.

Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office says Harjinder Singh obtained proper work permits in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first administration.

California’s Assembly Bill 60, enacted in 2015, allows undocumented immigrants to apply for a driver’s license if they can provide proof of identity and California residency. These licenses are marked “not for federal identification.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on October 15 said he will withhold $40 million from California, saying it is the only state not enforcing English language requirements for truckers.

What People Are Saying

Rodrigo, to KTLA: “This is a tragic crash because it was very preventable. If somebody had just paid attention, if everyone was driving sober, this tragedy would not have occurred.”

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a statement after the August crash in Florida: “How many more innocent people must die before Gavin Newsom stops playing games with the safety of the American public? We pray for the victims and their families. Secretary [Kristi] Noem and DHS are working around the clock to protect the public and get these criminal illegal aliens out of America.”

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, after the August crash: “This recent news is a devastating tragedy made even worse by the fact that it was totally preventable. Illegal aliens that have no legal right to be in our country certainly should not be granted commercial drivers licenses. Gavin Newscum’s pro-illegal alien policies have deadly consequences. Yet he continues to double down and put illegals over American citizens.”

What Happens Next

The investigation into the cause of Tuesday’s crash and legal proceedings against the driver are moving forward.

Update 10/22/2025, 10:55 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to include more information.