Waiting for Punjabi translator: Indian-origin Jashanpreet Singh's court hearing delayed by three hours; his truck had killed 3 in California

Jashanpreet Singh, the Indian-origin truck driver, arrested after causing a pile-up that killed three people in California in 2025, was allowed to wear a turban in his latest court appearance on Monday. But his hearing was delayed by three hours as the officials waited for a Punjabi translator that the 21-year-old requested for his case.

Singh caused an eight-vehicle pile-up on 10 Freeway in San Bernardino County in October. The next date for his court appearance has been set on January 16.





Singh faces three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and reckless driving. He was originally slapped with a charge for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence, but it was dropped as no alcohol or drugs were detected in his blood immediately following the crash. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Jashanpreet's case came at a time when Indian-origin Sikh drivers are on the radar in the US for illegally entering the country and then get a commercial driver's license and starting to work without understanding the traffic rules in the US. The DHS said Jashanpreet entered the US illegally from India in 2022 during the Biden administration. But he got work permit valid up to 2030 and also a commercial license.

The case created a ripple in India as his family denied earlier allegations that he was driving under the influence. His family said Jashanpreet was a baptized Sukh who never took drugs or alcohol. Later, the toxicology report also confirmed that there was no alcohol or drugs and he was cleared of DUI charges. It is not clear what caused the accident and the case turned into that of a grossly negligent homicide.