In June 2024, Partap Singh, an Indian national who had entered the United States illegally in October 2022 through the southern border, caused a violent multi-vehicle crash while driving a commercial 18-wheeler truck in California. Singh was driving at unsafe speeds and ignored multiple traffic signals, including a construction zone warning, which ultimately led to the pileup.
The collision critically injured five-year-old Dalilah Coleman, who was airlifted to hospital and spent three weeks in a coma. Singh was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last month and currently remains in custody pending immigration proceedings. The incident has provoked intense scrutiny of immigration policies, road safety regulations, and driver licensing procedures in California and beyond.
Tragic Impact on Victims and Official Reactions
The crash left a catastrophic impact on Dalilah Coleman, who suffered severe injuries including a broken femur, skull fractures, and permanent brain damage. Following her hospitalisation, Dalilah underwent a craniectomy and was without half her skull for four months. Medical authorities have diagnosed her with diplegic cerebral palsy and global developmental delay, conditions that will require lifelong therapy.
Her father reports she can no longer walk, speak, or eat orally and missed the opportunity to start kindergarten. Dalilah’s stepfather, Michael Krause, and several other individuals were also hospitalised due to injuries sustained in the collision. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) detailed Singh’s reckless conduct, citing his failure to stop at traffic and construction signals.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sharply criticised California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Department of Motor Vehicles for issuing Singh a commercial driver’s license despite his illegal status, calling the tragedy “entirely preventable” and highlighting systemic failures in licensing and enforcement.
Immigration, Licensing, and Community Concerns
Singh’s case has added fuel to the ongoing national debate about immigration policies, state licensing rules, and road safety. Questions have been raised about how an undocumented immigrant obtained a commercial driver’s license in a state that brands itself as a sanctuary for immigrants.
The DHS has pointed to existing loopholes in processing and background checks, while critics blame California’s lax licensing policies. At the same time, immigrant advocacy groups have urged caution against demonising entire communities, highlighting the positive economic and social contributions of millions of migrants living and working in the US.
The case also resonates strongly within California’s large Punjabi and Indian trucking communities, many of whom report feeling unfairly targeted and harassed following unrelated high-profile accidents. This has led to calls for balanced enforcement that safeguards public safety without fostering discrimination or fear.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian believes that while it is imperative to hold those responsible for reckless behaviour accountable, this must be done without conflating individual acts with the broader immigrant population. Road safety demands stricter regulations, effective enforcement, and urgent reforms in licensing, especially for commercial truck drivers whose errors impact many lives.
However, public discourse must also be rooted in kindness, empathy, and understanding of complex social realities. Immigrant workers contribute significantly to society and deserve fair treatment, not stigmatization.
Dalilah Coleman’s life was forever changed when an illegal alien driving an 18-wheeler slammed into her and her family. The crash resulted in her inability to walk, talk, eat orally, or attend kindergarten as planned. She was in a coma for three weeks and required six months of… pic.twitter.com/8oG3IrUiwP
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 25, 2025
