ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Indian driver arrested after release in fatal Oregon crash
The crash occurred in November last year when Kumar allegedly jackknifed his semi-truck, blocking both lanes of a highway.
-
1759953093.png)
Staff Reporter - Wed, 29, Apr 2026
- 03:14 EDT
- 18
Rajinder Kumar and the newlywed couple. / Homeland Security
Indian national Rajinder Kumar has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after being released from a local jail in Oregon despite an immigration detainer, authorities said.
Kumar, accused in a fatal crash in Deschutes County, Oregon, was taken into custody on April 22, according to the Department of Homeland Security. He is now being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, pending deportation proceedings.
The crash occurred in November last year when Kumar allegedly jackknifed his semi-truck, blocking both lanes of a highway. Authorities said a Subaru Outback carrying 25-year-old William Micah Carter of Springfield and 24-year-old Jennifer Lynn Lower of John Day struck the trailer at highway speeds. Both died at the scene.
ALSO READ: Arrest detainer lodged against Indian-origin truck driver for killing newlyweds
The couple had been married for 16 days at the time of the crash, according to local reports.
Kumar was uninjured and arrested at the scene. Oregon State Police said preliminary findings pointed to possible weather-related factors and driver inattention. A full report and toxicology results are pending.
He was later charged with criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter, and reckless endangerment. Kumar pleaded not guilty to the charges in March.
DHS said ICE had lodged a detainer request with local authorities. Despite that, Kumar was released from jail on April 2. Records indicate he posted $25,000 toward a $250,000 bond before his release.
Federal officers then located and arrested him weeks later.
According to DHS records, Kumar crossed the U.S.-Mexico border near Lukeville, Arizona, on Nov. 28, 2022, and was paroled into the United States pending immigration proceedings. He later received work authorization in 2023 and obtained a commercial driver’s license in California.
In a statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, "Rajinder Kumar, a criminal illegal alien from India, was released into our country under the Biden administration and issued a commercial driver’s license by Gavin Newsom’s Department of Motor Vehicles."
She added, "How many more senseless tragedies must take place before sanctuary politicians stop allowing illegal aliens to dangerously operate semi-trucks on America’s roads?"
In a separate statement on social media, DHS said ICE officers tracked Kumar down after his release, adding, "Thank you to our ICE officers who tracked this killer down after he was RELEASED from jail by Oregon sanctuary politicians."
Kumar remains in federal custody as his criminal and immigration cases proceed.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login