Illegal immigrant truck driver released on $100k bond, fatal WA crash

(WASHINGTON) A 25-year-old truck driver, Kamalpreet Singh, accused of causing a deadly pileup on State Route 167 in King County, Washington, has been released from jail on a $100,000 bond, a decision that has reignited arguments over immigration enforcement and local cooperation with federal authorities. Singh was booked on a vehicular homicide charge after a December 11, 2025 crash that killed 29-year-old Robert B. Pearson, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Crash, immediate aftermath, and arrest

Investigators say the collision occurred on northbound SR 167 south of SR 18, where a blue 2010 Mazda 3 was crushed between two semi-trucks. Pearson, the Mazda’s driver, died at the scene.

Local reporting summarized by CDLLife indicates:

1. Singh was arrested the day of the crash (December 11, 2025).
2. He was held in the King County Jail until December 14, 2025, when he posted bond and was released.
3. Media reports describe Singh as an Indian national and note an earlier encounter with U.S. Border Patrol in Lukeville, Arizona, on December 23, 2023.

The Washington State Patrol told reporters that drugs and alcohol were “not believed to be factors,” but said the cause of the collision “remains under investigation.”

This leaves open questions about speed, traffic conditions, and the drivers’ actions in the seconds before impact.

Investigative allegations and evidence

The booking and investigative summaries make several serious allegations:

• Investigators allege Singh did not take evasive action and did not apply his brakes before striking the Mazda.
• They allege the Mazda was then pinned between the two semi-trucks.
• Authorities allege Singh’s driver logbook was falsified, listing a co-driver; electronic data reportedly contradicted the logbook entries.

Prosecutors have not yet set out their full case in public court filings cited by the coverage.

Bond decision and implications

Bond decisions in vehicular homicide cases hinge on factors like flight risk and public safety, but the reports did not describe the judge’s reasoning in Singh’s release.

• $100,000 bond: Can be unaffordable for many defendants, yet it can be posted quickly through family, assets, or a bond company.
• For Pearson’s family and friends, the suspect’s release from custody often feels like a second shock after the loss.

Immigration questions and detainers

The case has drawn attention because of Singh’s reported immigration status and prior Border Patrol encounter in late 2023. Reporting has been unclear on whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer asking King County to hold Singh for federal pickup, and whether the jail honored any such request.

• Public outlets reported Singh was in the country without legal status after the 2023 Lukeville arrest and was later released into the interior.
• Whether a detainer was filed or honored is central to debates over local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

An ICE detainer information is not equivalent to a criminal warrant; it is a request that local law enforcement keep a person in custody briefly so federal officers can take custody. ICE explains how detainers work and what information the agency seeks from jails on its official page, ICE detainer information.

Why detainers matter:

• For grieving families, a detainer can affect whether a defendant might disappear.
• For immigrant communities, detainers can create fear that routine police contact leads to deportation, discouraging crime reporting and witness cooperation.

Reactions and the broader debate

Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized both Washington’s sanctuary-style limits and the earlier federal decision to release Singh after his 2023 Border Patrol arrest, according to cited statements.

• Her comments reflect a push by some federal officials and lawmakers to tie local cooperation, detention decisions, and border releases to public safety outcomes.
• Supporters of sanctuary policies argue:
  • Local police should focus on state and local crimes.
  • Converting every arrest into an immigration screening can deter immigrant victims and witnesses from contacting police.

Trucking industry concerns: logbooks and fatigue

The allegation of a falsified logbook raises a separate set of concerns for the trucking industry and safety advocates.

• Federal rules restrict how long commercial drivers may drive without rest; logbooks are the system used to document hours.
• Investigators say the logbook listed a co-driver while electronic data suggested otherwise — a discrepancy that can be crucial in proving fatigue or lack of accountability in vehicular homicide prosecutions.
• Safety advocates emphasize that systems relying on records matter only if records are honest and enforced.

Uncertainties, reconstruction, and next steps

Several facts remain unresolved in public reporting:

• Whether Singh had time to brake.
• Whether traffic slowed suddenly.
• How the two semi-trucks and the Mazda became aligned so Pearson had no escape.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether any ICE detainer was filed or served in this case. The Washington State Patrol has not released a final crash reconstruction.

Defense attorneys often challenge early conclusions based on electronic data; prosecutors frequently rely on the same data. The system of proof and technical analysis can evolve as investigators complete their reconstruction.

Legal process and potential outcomes

Singh’s court dates were not listed in the reports cited. The vehicular homicide charge can lead to significant penalties if prosecutors prove criminal negligence.

Key points for watchers of the case:

• The judicial process will determine whether the allegations (no braking, falsified logbook, etc.) are proven.
• The case also functions as a touchstone in the national debate over immigration enforcement, local policy, and public safety.
• For Pearson’s family, the criminal process and any immigration-related actions will be part of a longer period of uncertainty and grief.

Pearson’s family waits, and the State Route 167 corridor continues to carry traffic past the crash site as investigators and the courts resolve the facts.