10 Freeway in Ontario reopens after multi-vehicle crash leaves 3 dead, 4 hospitalized

A 21-year-old Yuba City man has been arrested for driving under the influence of drugs after the big rig he was driving allegedly led to an eight-vehicle collision on the 10 Freeway in Ontario on Tuesday, leading to the deaths of three people.

California Highway Patrol officers were called to the westbound lanes of I-10 just west of the I-15 Freeway at around 1:15 p.m. after learning of the crash, according to the department's incident log. 

A CHP preliminary investigation found that traffic in the westbound lanes had slowed or stopped when a Freightliner tractor-trailer combination failed to stop in time, causing a chain reaction crash. Four of the eight vehicles involved were commercial vehicles and police said two people were pronounced dead at the scene.

Five others were taken to nearby hospitals, where one died. None of the conditions of the other victims was immediately known. All of the victims were adults, according to Ontario Fire Department firefighters.

One of the deceased victims was identified as a 54-year-old man from Upland, CHP officers said on Wednesday. 

CHP officials identified the driver as 21-year-old Yuba City resident Jashanpreet Singh. He was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, causing bodily injury and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Singh remains behind bars at the West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $25,000 and is scheduled to appear in Rancho Superior Court on Thursday. 

On Wednesday, Department of Homeland Security officials told CBS LA that Singh was in the U.S. illegally at the time of the crash after he entered the country 

A SigAlert was issued for all westbound lanes except for FasTrak, CHP officers said. The I-10 and I-15 connector road was closed as well, and drivers were advised to seek alternate routes due to "very heavy traffic and extended delays."

The freeway reopened around 1 a.m. on Wednesday after crews were able to clear the roadway. 

SkyCal flew over the spot of the crash at around 4 p.m. There appeared to be at least three semi-trucks involved, as well as one truck carrying a trailer full of items, a pickup truck and two other cars. Each vehicle had sustained considerable damage.