Fatal Ohio Crash Spurs Lawmakers to Demand Answers From Newsom
Five Ohio Republicans in Congress are seeking answers from California Gov. Gavin Newsom after an Ohio fatal crash involving a truck driver who reportedly was issued a California commercial driver’s license. The lawmakers are also asking about the driver’s immigration status and the state’s CDL testing and licensing procedures.
Lawmakers Question California CDL Issuance
Congressmen Dave Taylor, R-Ohio; Warren Davidson, R-Ohio; Max Miller, R-Ohio; Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; and Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, sent a letter to Newsom requesting information about how 39-year-old truck driver Manjit Singh obtained a California commercial driver’s license.
The lawmakers asked whether California officials knew Singh was in the country illegally when the license was issued. They also requested information about whether Singh completed testing related to English proficiency and the ability to understand road signs.
The letter gave Newsom seven days to respond and asked whether California would work with the Trump administration to prevent commercial driver’s licenses from being issued to people who lack legal status.
ICE Seeks Detainer
Immigration and Customs Enforcement also filed a detainer asking Ohio officials not to release Singh so the agency can pursue his removal from the United States.
“ICE has lodged a detainer asking officials in Ohio to commit to not releasing this killer back onto our streets, so that ICE can remove him from our country,” the lawmakers said.
The detainer request does not determine the outcome of the underlying criminal case. Authorities have not provided additional details in the available material about the charges or the status of the investigation.
Crash Investigation Continues
The fatal Ohio crash remains under investigation. The lawmakers’ inquiry focuses on the licensing process in California and whether state officials followed applicable requirements when Singh received his commercial driver’s license.
The letter comes as federal and state officials continue to examine commercial driver licensing standards, including requirements involving English proficiency, road-sign comprehension and eligibility to hold a CDL.
