Federal immigration officials issue arrest detainer for trucker charged in Highway 20 double-fatal crash, say he was in U.S. illegally
Barney Lerten
(Update: Adding video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Federal immigration officials said late Monday a California truck driver arrested after a crash east of Bend that killed a newlywed couple has been in the country illegally for three years, and that they have issued an arrest detainer.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced in a news release that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an arrest detainer for Rajinder Kumar, whom they called “a criminal illegal alien from India.” They said he entered the U.S. illegally near Lukeville, Arizona on Nov. 28, 2022.
KTVZ News reported last week that Oregon State Police said Kumar, 32, of Fresno, Calif., jackknifed his semi-truck and trailer on the night of Nov. 24 on U.S. Highway 20 about 50 miles east of Bend, blocking both lanes.
A westbound Subaru Outback traveling at highway speeds collided with the trailer. The driver, William Micah Carter, 25, of Springfield, and passenger Jennifer Lynn Lower, 24, of John Day, died at the crash scene, troopers said. Kumar reportedly was uninjured.
An OSP investigation led to Kumar’s arrest on two counts of criminally negligent homicide and a count of reckless endangering.
Lower’s father, Tom Lower, had reached out after the tragic crash to KTVZ News and said she and Carter were newlyweds who had met on a blind date last April and had married in Portland just 16 days before the tragic crash.
Tom Lower said Jennifer was from Preston, Idaho, a University of Oregon graduate and marched in this year’s Rose Bowl Parade with the U of O Marching Band. On the night they died, they were driving back to Oregon, hoping to settle in the Salem area.
DHS said Kumar “was released into the country by the Biden administration” and given a work authorization in 2023. He was issued a commercial driver’s license by “(Governor) Gavin Newsom’s California,” the agency added.
While OSP listed his name as Rajinder Kumar, KTVZ News learned late Monday that the charges were filed in Deschutes County with the name reversed, as Kumar Rajinder. District Attorney Stephen Gunnels told us that the crash reports apparently listed his name both ways; we reached out to OSP for a clarification and they said their report listed him as Rajinder Kumar.
Court records show that Kumar was initially arraigned last Wednesday on the two felony and one misdemeanor charges, assisted by a Hindi interpreter in a video hookup from the jail.
Circuit Judge Randy Miller set bail at $100,000 and ordered that he surrender his passport before he could be released on bail, as well as standard conditions of obeying all laws, keeping in touch with his attorney and appearing for all future court hearings.
Miller held another hearing Friday, court records show, at which he made no changes in those release conditions, including surrender of the man’s passport.
The truck driver is due to appear in court again Tuesday afternoon for a pre-trial release hearing. Court records show he a Wednesday afternoon hearing is scheduled for arraignment on an expected grand jury indictment. The judge also will address the passport issue “and address his correct name per DCSO (the Deschutes County Sherff’s Office,” court records show.
In his post-hearing order, the judge said the defendant already had posted bail (10% of the $100,000 bal) “but does not have a passport available to surrender in order to be released. Jail officials confirmed to KTVZ News that the passport issue was why he was still being held.
Gunnels acknowledged to KTVZ News that the name discrepancy is unusual, but such issues are usually resolved before or when a grand jury reviews the evidence and issues an indictment.
In the Department of Homeland Security news release, the agency said, “Since Oregon is a sanctuary state, ICE will make all necessary efforts to bring Kumar into custody, should he be released from custody.”
The DHS release also listed three other fatal crashes this year involving truck drivers who they said were in the U.S. illegally.
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin is quoted as saying: “How many more senseless tragedies must take place before sanctuary politicians stop allowing illegal aliens to dangerously operate semi-trucks on America’s roads? Our prayers are with William and Jennifer’s families. Under Secretary Noem, ICE will continue its efforts to get illegal alien truck drivers off America’s highways.”
KTVZ News also has reached out to Kumar’s defense attorney for any statement or comment about the developments.