Truck driver charged with misdemeanor in fatal Pleasanton crash

PLEASANTON — A Washington man has been charged with a misdemeanor in connection with a five-car collision in which one of the passengers were killed and several others were injured, court records show.

Palvindra Singh, 50, of Bremerton, Washington, was charged with a single misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter count alleging he caused the death of Juan Chan Saltay by speeding. Singh was released at an early court appearance, and most recently appeared for a pretrial conference last week, records show.

According to a probable cause statement authored by the California Highway Patrol, Singh was speeding in a Freightliner truck and was at-fault in the five-car collision. Saltay was a passenger in a Toyota Highlander and complained of chest pain and a possible broken arm. Three children inside the Toyota were also hospitalized with injuries, as was the driver of another involved BMX X3.

Misdemeanors are filed in fatal car wrecks when prosecutors feel they can prove the driver broke a traffic law, but wasn’t grossly negligent. The charge carries up to one year in jail.