ONTARIO, Calif. — New court testimony has revealed that 21-year-old truck driver Jashanpreet Singh was using his cellphone in the minutes leading up to the deadly pileup on the 10 Freeway in Ontario last month.

During a preliminary hearing on Friday in Rancho Cucamonga, prosecutors presented evidence showing Singh’s phone activity moments before the crash that killed three people. A detective testified that cellphone analysis revealed active use of WhatsApp and the Notes app prior to impact.

“There was usage through the application of WhatsApp as well as the notes application on the phone,” the detective testified.

A motor carrier specialist also told the court there were issues with the truck’s braking system, stating that “one brake was out of adjustment” among the 10 brakes on the Freightliner tractor-trailer involved in the collision.

The hearing comes after the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office dropped Singh’s DUI charges following a toxicology report confirming no drugs or alcohol were present in his system. Singh, who was originally accused of driving under the influence, now faces vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and reckless driving charges.

Court documents also revealed that the California Highway Patrol initiated the DUI investigation only after a 45-minute interview with Singh at the crash scene.

Video evidence presented in court showed the fiery explosion caused by the impact, which occurred when Singh’s semi-truck slammed into traffic along the freeway.

Singh remains in custody without bail and is scheduled to return to court next week for arraignment.

According to NBC Los Angeles, the investigation continues as prosecutors review the extent to which Singh’s cellphone use and possible mechanical issues contributed to the fatal crash.

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