OSP arrests California truck driver after SUV struck his jackknifed semi on Highway 20, killing two people
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A California truck driver was arrested by Oregon State Police on two counts of criminally negligent homicide after an SUV struck his jackknifed semi on Highway 20 east of Bend, killing both the driver and passenger.
Oregon State Police and other first responders were called to the crash around 9:30 p.m. Monday near milepost 51, about 50 miles east of Bend, troopers said Wednesday.
A preliminary investigation found that truck driver Rajinder Kumar, 32, of Fresno, Calif., had jackknifed his Freightliner rig, blocking both lanes of the two-lane highway, troopers said. The tractor was facing eastbound in the eastbound lane.
A Subaru Outback driven by William Micah Carter, 25 of Springfield, struck the trailer at highway speeds.
Carter and passenger Jennifer Lynn Lower, 24, of John Day, died at the crash scene, OSP said. Kumar reportedly was unhurt.
As a result of the on-scene investigation, Kumar was arrested on charges of criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangering. He was booked into the Deschutes County Jail and held without bail pending arraignment.
"Dark conditions and a lack of active emergency warning equipment is being considered a primary contributor of the crash," OSP said in a news release.
The crash and investigation closed the highway for about seven hours.
District Attorney Steve Gunnels confirmed Wednesday to KTVZ News that Kumar will face two counts of criminally negligent homicide.
Oregon court records did not show a filing by Wednesday afternoon. They did show that Kumar, listed as a New York resident, was ticketed and fined $440 in January of 2024 for violating ODOT safe operations and equipment rules by failing to carry chains in a snow zone on Interstate 84 in the La Grande area. He also was ticketed and fined $440 at that time for lacking an Oregon wight-mile tax permit.
