AUBURN, Washington — A fatal three-vehicle collision on State Route 167 has resulted in the arrest of a semi-truck driver who investigators say was illegally in the United States after previously being released by federal authorities.

The deadly crash occurred around 7:14 a.m. Thursday near the SR-18 interchange, where traffic had slowed in the northbound lanes. According to the Washington State Patrol, 25-year-old Kamalpreet Singh failed to reduce speed and rear-ended a stopped Mazda sedan, forcing it underneath a Peterbilt truck ahead.

The driver of the Mazda, 29-year-old Robert B. Pearson of Bonney Lake, was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers said the Mazda briefly caught fire but the flames were quickly extinguished. Neither Singh nor the other truck driver suffered injuries.

Investigators later learned that Singh, an Indian national, had illegally crossed the U.S. border near Lukeville, Arizona, on December 23, 2023, where he was apprehended by Border Patrol and released into the country by the Biden administration instead of being detained. ICE has since issued an immigration detainer with King County following his arrest for vehicular homicide.

^{Photo credit: Department of Homeland Security}

Washington State Patrol confirmed drugs and alcohol were not factors in the crash. The roadway remained closed for nearly seven hours as crews processed the scene and removed the vehicles.

The investigation remains ongoing, according to FOX News Digital.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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