Indian national arrested after Oregon crash that killed newlywed couple

An Indian national who reportedly entered the United States illegally in 2022 has been arrested following a fatal highway crash in Oregon that claimed the lives of a recently married couple, as per reports.

The incident occurred on November 24 on a remote stretch of highway in Deschutes County. According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police, 32-year-old Rajinder Kumar was driving a Freightliner semi-truck when it jackknifed across both lanes in the dark. Police documents cited by local outlets indicate that no emergency warning markers were placed on the road after the truck came to a stop.

A westbound Subaru Outback traveling at normal highway speed collided with the side of the trailer, killing both occupants at the scene. The victims were identified as 25-year-old William Micah Carter of Springfield and his 24-year-old wife, Jennifer Lynn Lower of John Day. The couple had been married just sixteen days earlier.

Kumar, listed in court records as residing in Fresno, California, was not injured. Although he posted bail, he remains in custody as he is unable to surrender a passport, a mandatory condition for release. A pretrial release hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Kumar is an Indian citizen who crossed the border unlawfully near Lukeville, Arizona, on November 28, 2022. He was released at the time pending immigration proceedings under existing federal policy and received work authorization in 2023. Records show he subsequently obtained a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in California, a point that has drawn political scrutiny since the crash.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued an immigration detainer to the Deschutes County Jail. The agency noted that Oregon's sanctuary state laws may complicate efforts to take him into federal custody if he is released by the court.Indian National Arrested After Oregon Crash That Killed Newlywed Couple