California DMV let big rig driver keep license before fatal crash near Fresno

A man driving a semitruck near Fresno caused a fatal crash in June 2022 that killed a woman, according to CalMatters and almanacnews.com. The driver, Baljit Singh, was traveling at 65 mph when he hit the back of an SUV, flipping it and causing the death of Jenny Chow.

Court filings and police reports reveal that Singh had been involved in a previous fatal crash in July 2021 on Merle Haggard Drive in Kern County. In that incident, Singh’s truck drifted over the median and killed a 26-year-old motorcyclist. Investigators found evidence suggesting Singh was fatigued and had driven beyond the legal 12-hour limit.

Despite this, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) did not suspend Singh’s driving privileges after the first crash. This allowed him to continue operating big rigs until the 2022 collision that resulted in another death.

The California Highway Patrol had recommended vehicular manslaughter charges following the 2021 crash. However, the DMV’s inaction has been criticized as a failure to prevent further tragedy.

Loren Chow, whose wife died in the 2022 crash, said the death was avoidable and that the accident should never have happened if the DMV had acted appropriately.