The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has repeatedly allowed professional drivers involved in fatal crashes to remain on the road, an investigation has found, with devastating consequences. In one tragic instance, a commercial truck driver killed a woman in 2022, nearly a year after he had already caused another fatal collision, despite the DMV’s authority to suspend his driving privileges.
Jenny Chow, her husband Loren, and their son were returning home from a college visit in June 2022 when a semitruck, driven by Baljit Singh, crashed into their SUV near Fresno. Singh’s red Freightliner, loaded with fertilizer and traveling at 65 miles per hour, failed to stop in slowed traffic, smashing into the Chow family's vehicle and flipping it. Law enforcement determined Singh caused the crash by driving too fast, and Jenny Chow died. Loren Chow is actively suing Singh, the trucking companies, and vehicle manufacturers.
Crucially, court filings and police reports reveal this tragedy was preventable. Eleven months prior, in July 2021, Singh was involved in another fatal collision in Kern County, killing a 26-year-old motorcyclist. Police found ripped log book pages in his truck, and California Highway Patrol investigators alleged Singh was fatigued, having driven over the 12-hour limit, recommending vehicular manslaughter charges. Despite knowing about this earlier fatal incident, the DMV did not suspend Singh’s license, allowing him to continue driving until he killed again. Loren Chow stated, "The death was completely avoidable."
A broader investigation found that the DMV frequently permits professional drivers with dangerous driving histories to operate large commercial vehicles, even after fatal crashes. State law empowers the DMV to investigate drivers in fatal collisions and suspend licenses without a conviction. Yet, the agency "routinely does nothing." When it does act, it can take years. Baljit Singh, for instance, was not convicted of manslaughter until 2024, at which point the DMV finally took his license.
Under California law, a truck driver convicted of manslaughter faces a 12-month disqualification from driving big rigs, with felony vehicular manslaughter typically leading to a three-year license revocation. However, criminal cases often drag out. The investigation also found vehicular manslaughter was almost always listed as a two-point violation for truck drivers instead of the mandated three points, with the DMV stating it relies on courts for proper notification.
Reviewing records for over 130 commercial licensees charged with vehicular manslaughter from 2019 to early 2024, nearly half still held valid commercial licenses as of late May. This included a dozen drivers ticketed for unsafe commercial vehicle operation *after* causing a fatal incident. Ironically, months before Singh's license was suspended, the DMV threatened Loren Chow with wage garnishment and property liens for a late registration fee on his totaled SUV.
The DMV’s inaction carries significant consequences given the inherent dangers of big rigs. Truck driving is arduous, involving long hours over vast distances. A fully loaded semi can weigh 80,000 pounds—20 times a car—and requires nearly two football fields to stop at highway speeds. "One thing goes wrong, you’re gonna kill somebody," noted Joe Rajkovacz of the Western States Trucking Association. From 2015 through 2024, approximately 4,000 people died in large-truck crashes in California.
California’s commercial licensing decisions impact safety nationwide. Tami Friedrich of the Truck Safety Coalition emphasized that regulators must identify and remove unsafe truck drivers, stressing their "certain level of responsibility above and beyond a regular car driver." However, the examined cases suggest California often fails to uphold this standard.
Further examples highlight this failure. One driver killed a 55-year-old man in Bakersfield in 2023, four years after allegedly injuring a woman with his semi in Sacramento, with no DMV action recorded for the prior incident. He had another truck collision in 2025. Another driver, with convictions for reckless driving and hit-and-run, was involved in a San Joaquin County collision in 2023, missed a court date, and then killed someone in Amador County. He later received a speeding ticket and was involved in another collision this year. The DMV only suspended his commercial license in September after inquiries. A third driver, with five prior collisions (including a 2021 fatal incident in Riverside County), renewed his license last year and quickly accumulated two speeding tickets, retaining a valid license as of September.
Experts explain that while regular drivers might operate with a suspended license, trucking companies rarely entrust loaded semis to drivers without valid commercial licenses, making DMV action highly impactful. Yet, the agency often acts only when legally mandated, underutilizing its considerable discretionary power to ensure unsafe drivers are removed from the roads. This reluctance occurs amid a tumultuous period for the trucking industry, with a reported proliferation of less reputable operators compromising safety standards.