Indian truck driver arrested in Utah months after fatal California hit-and-run that killed 2

An Indian truck driver wanted in connection with a fatal hit-and-run in California was arrested in Utah months after the crash, when police stopped him for speeding and discovered a warrant linked to the deaths of two people.Chamkaur Singh, 30, was pulled over by police in Moab, Utah, on September 1 while driving a semi-truck. During the traffic stop, officers found a nationwide warrant from California charging him with homicide-vehicular manslaughter, Dailywire reported.The warrant was linked to a March 29 crash in Ontario, California, in which seven vehicles were involved. California Highway Patrol officers were responding to an earlier two-vehicle collision when a semi-truck travelling in the slow lane rear-ended a car, killing one passenger and critically injuring another.The truck then struck another vehicle, killing a second person. Two other people were also injured in the pile-up.Singh allegedly fled the scene after the crash. He was arrested without incident in Moab and booked into the Grand County Jail. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer against him the following day.California issued Singh a commercial driver’s licence (CDL) on May 10, 2025, according to DHS. The department said the licence remains active despite three convictions on his driving record for improper lane or location, following too closely and speeding.Singh had already received a deportation order when his CDL was issued.According to the department, Singh said he left India in December 2020 and travelled through the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico before entering the US through Arizona in August 2021.He was then arrested by US Border Patrol after entering the country but was later released, DHS said.DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticised the circumstances surrounding Singh’s release and the issuance of his commercial driving licence.“This illegal alien from India is accused of causing a semi-truck crash that killed two people in California,” Mullin said. “Despite having three convictions on his driving record, his CDL is still active.”Mullin also criticised the Biden administration’s immigration policies and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s policies, calling for changes to what DHS described as sanctuary policies.Singh remains in custody in Utah over the California warrant.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.