California father says Newsom ignored pleas after migrant trucker's crash left daughter critically injured

A California father says Gov. Gavin Newsom has not responded to pleas for answers after a crash involving an illegal immigrant truck driver left his 5-year-old daughter with life-changing injuries. Marcus Coleman told Fox News that he never heard back from the governor or his office after the June 20, 2024, crash in Southern California, which authorities say involved a commercial 18-wheeler that failed to stop in a construction zone and caused a multi-vehicle pileup. Dalilah Coleman was airlifted to a children’s hospital and spent more than a month there, much of it in a coma. Her family described the child as having sustained a traumatic brain injury, later diagnosed as cerebral palsy and global developmental delay, requiring nutrition through a G-tube and leaving her unable to walk.

An illegal immigrant from India identified by the Department of Homeland Security as Partap Singh has since been arrested in connection with the crash. Authorities say Singh drove at an unsafe speed and failed to stop for traffic in the construction zone. DHS also said Singh held a California commercial driver’s license. The incident has become a flashpoint in ongoing debates over how licenses are issued and who is responsible for ensuring driver safety when noncitizens are involved.

Dalilah’s mother, Ileana Krause, described the ongoing impact of the injuries: "She has a TBI. She is now diagnosed with cerebral palsy and global developmental delay. She doesn't walk. She receives nutrition through a G-tube." Krause lamented the lack of direct communication from officials as her daughter’s condition remained fragile in the months after the crash. The family’s case has drawn attention to the licensing process for drivers who enter the country illegally and hold or renew commercial credentials in states such as California, where Singh reportedly received his CDL.

In a separate development, authorities say another illegal immigrant was charged earlier this year in Florida with three counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations after a crash in which a minivan was struck when a trailer jackknifed. Police allege the driver, Harjinder Singh, attempted a U-turn in an unauthorized area. They added that he obtained a commercial driver’s license in Washington in 2023 and a limited-term CDL in California in 2024. The incidents have fed continuing political rhetoric about whether federal policies are synchronized with state licensing controls and border enforcement.

The controversy drew a direct line to national debates about safety and immigration policy when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called on Newsom to take action to prevent future tragedies. "Dalilah Coleman’s life was forever changed when an illegal alien driving an 18-wheeler slammed into her and her family. This tragedy was entirely preventable," Noem said. A Newsom spokesperson issued a response, saying the responsibility for the crash rests with the federal government, not the state. "Our hearts go out to the Coleman family," the spokesperson added, and they pushed back against Noem, arguing that the federal government issued and renewed the driver’s work permit, enabling him to obtain a license in California and other states. They urged Secretary Noem to stop politicizing the tragedy.

Coleman and Krause emphasize that they want accountability and explanations after what they describe as a preventable crash that altered their daughter’s life. "She didn't deserve this. She was a very sweet girl, and she still is," Krause said, noting that the family must navigate a future no longer defined by who Dalilah used to be. The family continues to pursue answers while the case remains under investigation and public policy questions about licensing and enforcement remain unresolved.

Kristi Noem’s and Gavin Newsom’s public positions foreground a broader policy debate about licensing standards for drivers with federal work authorizations and how state departments of motor vehicles verify credentials. The California crash, along with the Florida incident and related political reactions, underscores the frictions between state authority and federal immigration policy in the ongoing national conversation about road safety, accountability, and how to prevent tragedies involving commercial drivers.

As the Coleman family and others affected by similar crashes seek clarity, officials in Washington and Sacramento face renewed scrutiny over licensing procedures and the information sharing that could help prevent such incidents in the future. Investigators have not indicated a resolution to the case, and the public remains focused on what steps policymakers can take to enhance safety without compromising due process for drivers who are inside the country legally under federal authorization.

The case also serves as a touchpoint for discussions about reform in driver licensing processes, background checks, and the coordination between federal permits and state licensing authorities. Families affected by these crashes, including the Colemans, continue to advocate for transparency and timely communication from elected officials, hoping that accountability will help prevent similar injuries or fatalities going forward.