Truck driver pleads no contest in Hwy 17 fatal crash case

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) -- The driver of a big rig that caused a fatal crash on Highway 17 in July of 2014 on Wednesday pleaded no contest to a vehicular manslaughter charge.

Ravinderpal Singh was the driver of the big rig when the accident happened on July 10, 2014 on Highway 17. According to authorities, 10 cars were hit, seven people were injured and one person was killed.

KTVU file footage shows Singh at the crash site. He told a KTVU reporter at the time he tried to slam on the brakes, but nothing happened. He also apologized for the crash.

Singh appeared at the Santa Clara County Courthouse in San Jose with his attorney to plead no contest to a vehicular manslaughter charge. The charge stems from the death of 25-year-old Daniel McGuire of Santa Cruz.

Deputy District Attorney Alisa Esser-Kahn said she is satisfied with the plea.

“Our hearts go out to Mr. McGuire’s family,” she said. “That occurred because of some avoidable mistakes that were made by Mr. Singh and that’s why we feel that today’s no contest plea by Mr. Singh is justice in this case.”

Singh has two pending civil lawsuits against him and the trucking company he worked for at the time, SBT Trucking. It is unclear how his no contest plea will affect those cases.

Singh declined to comment on camera, but his attorney said Singh is remorseful and wants to move on. Singh will be back in court on Dec. 11 for a sentencing hearing. He faces up to one year in county jail.