A 25-year-old illegal alien from India is out of jail after posting bond in connection with a deadly multi-vehicle crash on a Washington state highway.
Kamalpreet Singh, of Elk Grove, California, was driving a Freightliner semi-truck [1] northbound on State Route 167 near the SR-18 interchange on Dec. 11 when he rear-ended a stopped Mazda sedan, according to the Washington State Patrol. The impact pushed the Mazda under a Peterbilt truck ahead, crushing the car and igniting its engine compartment. The Mazda driver, 29-year-old Robert B. Pearson of Bonney Lake, was pronounced dead at the scene. Singh and the Peterbilt driver were uninjured.
Troopers determined Singh made no attempt to brake [2] or evade before the collision. Investigators also found evidence that Singh falsified his electronic logbook by listing a co-driver and possibly altering or disconnecting data, the State Patrol said in court documents.
Singh was arrested on investigation of vehicular homicide. A King County judge set bail at $100,000 during his first court appearance, and he was released after posting bond [3]. The court ordered Singh not to drive if released.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer requesting custody of Singh for deportation proceedings, but the detainer was not honored. Washington operates as a sanctuary state that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement on detainers.
Singh illegally crossed the border near Lukeville, Arizona, on Dec. 23, 2023, according to ICE sources [1]. Border Patrol apprehended him but released him into the country pending immigration hearings.
Singh held a commercial driver’s license issued in California. Federal law requires lawful presence in the U.S. for such licenses, though California issues them under state rules.
No prior criminal history for Singh in the U.S. was reported in connection with this case. He is not related to other Indian nationals with the surname Singh charged in separate fatal truck crashes this year.
“These demented and dangerous sanctuary policies have deadly consequences,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said [4] in a statement. “Robert Pearson would still be alive today if the Biden administration hadn’t released this illegal alien into our country.”
The Washington State Patrol withdrew its initial complaint to refile with additional details, and the investigation continues. Prosecutors expect to refer charges soon. Pearson’s family described him as a devoted husband and father of two young boys. A GoFundMe page [5] has been set up to support his widow and children.