MINERAL COUNTY, Colo. — Authorities have identified the truck driver killed in last week’s Wolf Creek Pass crash as Sukhpreet Singh, a 23-year-old from New York originally from India.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, Singh was driving a Freightliner semi-truck hauling canned drinks on Highway 160 near Pagosa Springs when the vehicle lost control on the steep descent and plunged down a mountainside on November 3.

Troopers say the truck was traveling at excessive speed, and witnesses reported smoke coming from the brakes moments before the crash. Singh did not use the nearby runaway truck ramp, located about 1.5 miles from the site. The semi crashed through a guardrail and tumbled down the embankment, completely destroying the cab and trailer.

First responders found Singh ejected from the vehicle amid heavy debris. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Singh had recently started his trucking career in the U.S. and was described as a hardworking young man supporting his family overseas. He was the only son and had two sisters in India.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help return his body to India and assist his family during this difficult time.

Wolf Creek Pass, located in the San Juan Mountains, is known for its steep 7% grade and sharp curves, making it one of Colorado’s most dangerous routes for truckers. Dozens of semi-truck crashes have been recorded there in recent years.

According to PEOPLE and local reports, investigators continue to review the crash, focusing on the vehicle’s brakes, speed, and possible mechanical issues.

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