Indian Truck Driver's Lenient Sentence for Fatal Crash Sparks US Fury

Singh, 21, pleaded guilty to three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter in the October 2025 crash on Interstate 10 in Ontario, California. The chain-reaction collision involved eight vehicles and killed Clarence Nelson, 76, and his wife Lisa Nelson, 69, along with a third victim.

Prosecutors had requested a 10-year prison term, but San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Shannon L. Faherty imposed a sentence of four years and eight months, citing Singh's age and lack of prior criminal record. Four other people were injured in the pileup.

Authorities said Singh was driving a semi-truck when it struck stopped traffic. The California Highway Patrol reported that Singh was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash and made no attempt to stop or swerve. Singh entered the United States in 2022 and was identified as being in the country illegally.

The sentence drew sharp criticism on social media, with many users calling it too lenient given the loss of life. Some posts targeted Judge Faherty, while others highlighted Singh's immigration status and the role of drugs in the crash. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy previously stated the accident could have been avoided.