An Indian truck driver who entered the United States illegally has been arrested in connection with a devastating California crash that left a five-year-old girl with life-altering injuries.

Story Highlights – Read Box

• Indian truck driver Partap Singh arrested by ICE over 2024 California crash

• Five-year-old Dalilah Coleman critically injured, lifelong therapy expected

• Singh crossed the US border illegally in 2022; now held in ICE custody

• California DMV issued Singh a commercial driver’s license despite status

• Second similar case involving an Indian commercial truck driver in the US

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that Partap Singh was taken into custody last month. According to officials, he will remain in ICE detention pending immigration proceedings.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Singh had crossed the southern border in October 2022 and was released into the country. In June 2024, while operating a commercial 18-wheeler in California, Singh allegedly caused a multi-vehicle pileup on a busy highway.

A California Highway Patrol Traffic Crash Report said Singh was driving at an unsafe speed and failed to stop for traffic and a construction zone. Despite his immigration status, Singh had obtained a commercial driver’s license from California’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

The collision critically injured Dalilah Coleman, a five-year-old child. Her stepfather, Michael Krause, was also hospitalized. Several other individuals were treated for injuries. The child had to be airlifted to a hospital for emergency care.

Coleman’s father described the profound impact of the crash.

“Dalilah can no longer walk, talk, eat orally, or attend kindergarten as planned,” he said.

According to family accounts, the child spent three weeks in a coma and underwent six months of hospital treatment, including a craniectomy. She suffered a broken femur, skull fractures, and has since been diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy and global developmental delay. Doctors say she will need lifelong therapy.

DHS officials called the incident preventable.

“Dalilah Coleman’s life was forever changed when an illegal alien driving an 18-wheeler slammed into her and her family. This tragedy was entirely preventable,” a DHS spokesperson said.

The agency also criticized California’s licensing policies.

“This is sadly another example of California’s Department of Motor Vehicles issuing a commercial driver’s license to someone without legal status,” the statement continued.

This case mirrors a separate incident earlier this year involving Harjinder Singh, another Indian truck driver living illegally in the United States. In August, Harjinder Singh was arrested on three counts of vehicular homicide in Florida after blocking all lanes of a highway with his 18-wheeler, causing a crash that killed three people instantly.

According to DHS, Harjinder Singh also obtained a California commercial driver’s license despite having no legal right to be in the country. Following the fatal accident, the US government announced an immediate pause on issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers.

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration launched an investigation into the safety of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailers on US roads. Reports revealed Harjinder Singh had failed an English Language Proficiency assessment, answering only two of 12 verbal questions correctly and identifying just one of four highway traffic signs.

The twin cases have intensified scrutiny over immigration enforcement and driver licensing. Federal officials say they are reviewing procedures to ensure highway safety while protecting American motorists.

Appreciating your time:

We appreciate you taking the time to read our most recent article! We appreciate your opinions and would be delighted to hear them. We value your opinions as we work hard to make improvements and deliver material that you find interesting.

Post a Comment:

In the space provided for comments below, please share your ideas, opinions, and suggestions. We can better understand your interests thanks to your input, which also guarantees that the material we offer will appeal to you. Get in Direct Contact with Us: Please use our “Contact Us” form if you would like to speak with us or if you have any special questions. We are open to questions, collaborations, and, of course, criticism. To fill out our contact form, click this link.

Stay Connected:

Don’t miss out on future updates and articles.