Illegal Immigrant Truck Driver from India Arrested in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash on Highway 99 Near Lodi
- Rex Ballard
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
LODI, Calif. — A 24-year-old illegal alien from India is behind bars after a multi-vehicle crash on northbound Highway 99 that killed two people and injured five others Tuesday afternoon.
According to the California Highway Patrol and San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred around 12:20 p.m. south of the Harney Lane offramp. A Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck driven by Manvir Singh rear-ended a slowed Kia Forte in the right lane, where traffic—including a Toyota Camry and Nissan Frontier—had slowed. The impact triggered a violent chain-reaction collision.
Two people were killed instantly at the scene. Five others were transported to area hospitals, with at least two suffering serious injuries. The big rig reportedly skidded off the roadway, struck a guardrail, and caused extensive damage to multiple passenger vehicles.
Singh allegedly fled the scene on foot but was quickly apprehended by deputies. He was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail at approximately 6:35 p.m. on charges including:
Vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence
Hit-and-run resulting in death or injury
Resisting or obstructing a peace officer
The Department of Homeland Security has lodged an immigration detainer against Singh. Federal officials confirm he is an Indian national who entered the United States illegally through Arizona in 2023 and was released into the country under prior administration policies.
This incident marks another in a growing list of serious crashes involving commercial truck drivers with similar backgrounds in California and other states. Local law enforcement and first responders from multiple agencies, including the coroner’s office, worked the scene for hours as northbound Highway 99 was shut down for investigation.
The CHP continues to investigate the cause of the crash. It is not yet known if impairment, distraction, or mechanical issues played a role. No information has been released yet on the identities of the victims.
Shasta Unfiltered will continue monitoring this case as more details emerge, including any updates on immigration proceedings and potential CDL licensing questions surrounding undocumented operators in California’s trucking industry.
