Indian trucker held in US for fatal crash
Times of India
by TNNFebruary 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested Sukhdeep Singh, a semi-truck driver of Indian origin, following a fatal crash in Indiana. The incident occurred on February 18 when Singh allegedly ran a red light, causing a three-vehicle pile-up that resulted in the death of a 64-year-old man. This marks the fourth Indian-origin individual and third Sikh immigrant arrested in the US over the past six months for reckless driving linked to fatal crashes.
The trend of such incidents includes Harjinder Singh, who was accused of killing three people in Florida after making a dangerous U-turn on a highway in August 2023. Two months later, Jashanpreet Singh was arrested in California for driving under the influence and causing a crash that killed three individuals. In November, Rajinder Kumar, an undocumented immigrant since 2022, faced charges in Oregon after his truck blocked two lanes, leading to a fatal crash involving a newlywed couple.
Advocacy groups like United Sikhs have criticized these arrests, claiming they unfairly target the Sikh community. They pointed to a recent government report highlighting over 528,000 truck accidents in 2023, resulting in nearly 5,500 deaths—a broader issue affecting all communities. Additionally, the Sikh Coalition is challenging a new rule that restricts non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses, arguing it unfairly impacts Sikh immigrants who rely on such permits for work.
This issue has sparked debates over immigration policies and workplace fairness, particularly in industries like trucking where safety concerns are critical. Advocacy groups emphasize the need for equitable treatment and better safety measures rather than singling out specific communities. The broader context of roadway safety challenges underscores the importance of addressing systemic issues affecting all drivers nationwide.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/20/2026