The family of Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old Punjabi truck driver arrested in the United States for allegedly causing a deadly road accident that claimed three lives, has rejected American authorities’ claims that he was under the influence of drugs. From their modest home in Purana Shalla village in Gurdaspur district, Jashanpreet’s parents and relatives have appealed to both the Indian government and Sikh religious institutions to intervene and ensure that he is treated fairly.
Family pleads innocence
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Jashanpreet’s mother, Jasveer Kaur, broke down as she defended her son, insisting that the allegations of drug use were “false and malicious.”
“Please, do not drag down our son; stop the false conspiracies being made to punish him,” she said in Punjabi. “My son took Amrit, my son is a Khalsa (baptised Sikh). He does not consume any intoxicants,” she asserted, adding that her son had been raised with strict religious discipline.
Appealing directly to the Donald Trump administration, Jasveer Kaur said, “Nothing should happen to my child. Send him home, please, but do not give him any punishment.”
Her husband, Ravinder Singh, who works as a school bus driver and owns a small plot of land, echoed her sentiments. “Our family is Amritdhari (initiated Sikhs who follow a code of conduct). My son has abstained from intoxicants and has never touched any drugs. I worked hard to send him to the US to improve our family’s situation, but this incident has destroyed us,” he said.
Illegal entry and accident details
According to US law enforcement agencies, Jashanpreet Singh entered the country illegally through the southern border in 2022. He had been employed as a truck driver, reportedly operating under a small logistics firm in California.
On the day of the accident, US police said his trailer truck crashed into slowing traffic, setting off a massive fire on the highway that killed three people and injured several others, including Jashanpreet himself. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has confirmed that it has placed a detainer request for his custody, as he faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
While US authorities allege that toxicology reports indicated substance use, the family disputes this claim, insisting that Jashanpreet’s faith and lifestyle prohibit any form of intoxication.
‘He inspired us to become Amritdhari’
Ravinder Singh, visibly emotional, told reporters that his son had been deeply religious from a young age. “He was the kind of person who inspired the rest of us to become Amritdhari too,” he said, showing an old photograph of Jashanpreet dressed in Nihang attire, participating in a Sikh religious procession.
He urged Sikh institutions and community organisations worldwide to stand with his son. “I need Sikh organisations to support us. All our people there — the NRIs in the US — should stand with the child and ensure justice. This is a humble request,” he said.
At their home in Gurdaspur, neighbours and relatives have gathered to console the family, offering prayers for Jashanpreet’s safety and release.
A family’s shattered dreams
The Singhs’ small house in Purana Shalla reflects both pride and hardship. The father said he took a loan to send Jashanpreet abroad two years ago, hoping the young man’s earnings would lift the family’s fortunes. “Even if he has to come back now, I don’t care, as long as nothing happens to him,” Ravinder Singh said. “We will pay off the debt slowly. All that matters is his life.”
A relative, Gurbakhsh Singh, told Punjabi Post that the entire family had contributed to the cost of sending Jashanpreet abroad. “Ravinder drives a school bus and earns a small salary. We all pooled money to send the boy to America. Now this incident has crushed all our hopes. It has made things worse than ever before,” he said.
The family says they were informed of the accident through friends and news reports shared by the Punjabi diaspora in the US. Since then, they have been in constant touch with Sikh community leaders overseas, trying to understand the legal process their son is facing.
Appeals to Indian government and Sikh bodies
The family has urged the Government of India to take up the matter with the US administration, saying that the young trucker deserves a fair hearing. “We appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise this issue diplomatically. My son is innocent and has been wrongly accused,” Ravinder Singh said.
They have also called upon the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to extend help. “We request the Sikh leadership to speak up for him. He is a devout Sikh boy who could never have done what he is accused of,” Ravinder Singh said.
Family acknowledges the tragedy
Despite their firm defence of Jashanpreet’s character, the family expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the crash. “We stand with those families who lost their loved ones. No driver causes an accident deliberately. It is a tragedy that happens by the will of Almighty God,” said Ravinder Singh. “We pray for the souls of those who died. But please, do not destroy our child’s life too.”
As the case proceeds in the United States, Jashanpreet remains in police custody. The Manslaughter while intoxicatedcharge he faces is a serious felony in American law and could lead to a long prison sentence if proven. With ICE already involved, his immigration status adds another layer of complexity — even if acquitted, he could face deportation.
A case that has stirred emotion
The story has resonated deeply in Punjab, where thousands of young people dream of migrating abroad for better opportunities, often through risky or illegal routes. In many villages like Purana Shalla, families invest their savings — or take loans — to send sons overseas in hopes of a better life. Jashanpreet’s arrest has reignited conversations about the dangers of illegal migration and the exploitation faced by young Punjabis abroad.
While US prosecutors describe the case as a matter of reckless driving under the influence, Jashanpreet’s family insists it is a case of misjudgment — a tragic accident being turned into a criminal charge. “He was injured himself. Instead of being treated with compassion, he is being labelled as a criminal,” said a family friend present at the gathering in Gurdaspur.
As they await news from the United States, the Singh family’s prayer remains simple — that their only son is spared from harsh punishment and allowed to return home safely. “We are not asking for anything more,” said Jasveer Kaur quietly, her voice breaking. “Just bring our child back alive.”
For the Singh family, what began as a dream of prosperity in America has turned into a nightmare of uncertainty — one that now rests on diplomatic efforts, legal proceedings, and the support of a community that refuses to give up on one of its own.
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