After Nationwide Search Truck Driver Arrested 3 Years After Crash that Killed Two

Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman announced the arrest of Inderjit Singh Sidhu for failing to appear at his initial hearing in Marshall Superior Court No. 1 on a Grand Jury Indictment alleging two counts of reckless homicide, one count of driving at a speed greater than reasonable under the conditions, and one count of following too close. Chipman noted Sidhu’s arrest was on the eve of the third anniversary of the crash that killed two young men on their way to work.

It is alleged by Grand Jury indictment that on August 24, 2021, “Inderjit Singh Sidhu did recklessly kill John Paul David Eckel by operating a truck in plain, conscious, and unjustifiable disregard of harm that might result and the disregard involves a substantial deviation from acceptable standards of conduct.” A second count of Reckless Homicide alleges the same conduct that resulted in the death of Patric John McGlynn.

The Grand Jury also alleges Sidhu operated “a truck on U.S. 30, a highway, at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances and as is necessary to avoid colliding with a person, vehicle or other conveyance on the highway.” And finally, the Grand Jury alleges that “Sidhu did drive a truck on U.S. 30 and did follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of both vehicles, the time interval between vehicles, and the condition of the highway.”

The fatal crash occurred at 7:26 am on Tuesday morning, August 24, 2021. The weather was clear and sunny. Due to construction work in the area east bound traffic on U.S. 30 between Pioneer Drive and Oak Drive, just west of the railroad tracks, was pared down from two lanes to one by the use of orange traffic cones and appropriate signage. The resulting single lane of traffic was slowing and occasionally stopped as it traveled east toward the traffic light at Oak Drive. Approximately 1000 feet west of the Oak Drive intersection the official crash report states Sidhu was operating a 2019 Freightliner semi-tractor trailer and rear ended a 2009 Nissan Rogue passenger vehicle driven by 19-year-old Patric John McGlynn. Twenty-year-old John Paul David Eckel was a passenger in the Nissan. The semi ran over the Nissan and then collided with the rear of a semi operated by Thomas Lewis of Wanatah. Sidhu’s semi burst into flames. It is noted in the official crash report that Plymouth firefighters were unaware there was a passenger vehicle under the burning semi until fire suppression efforts were underway. Mandatory testing revealed no drugs or alcohol were present in any of the drivers involved in the crash.

Chipman requested a Grand Jury be convened on July 20, 2022 to investigate the causes of the crash. Mr. Sidhu was informed of the Grand Jury proceedings and his right to testify. Chipman noted he was in contact with Mr. Sidhu prior to the proceedings as well as after, including notification that an indictment was returned in two counts of Reckless Homicide and the two driving infraction counts. An initial hearing was scheduled for October 4, 2022. Although being notified of the date and time of the hearing, Sidhu failed to appear, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. He has remained free until Friday, August 23, 2024.

Efforts to find Sidhu began in late 2022. The company he drove for was based in Texas; his commercial drivers license had a California residential address. Chipman enlisted the assistance of the Indiana State Police who utilized national databases for CDL drivers as well as immigration status and employment records. All without success. Recently, however, information filtered back that Sidhu may be in northwest Indiana working at one in a chain of popular liquor stores. Sophisticated investigative techniques were employed by Det/Sgt. Jonathon Bryant that successfully pinpointed Sidhu’s location and his arrest was made Friday without incident.

Judge Robert O. Bowen held the long overdue initial hearing in Superior Court 1 and Sidhu was appointed public defender June Bules as counsel. Judge Bowen also set a pretrial conference date of September 18, 2024, and Omnibus date of October 24 and a Status conference for December 19. Sidhu continues to be held in the Marshall County Jail without bond. Chipman noted the case was then transferred to Superior Court 3, so the hearing dates are likely to be altered by Judge Matthew Sarber.

Readers are reminded that criminal charges are mere allegations and that the person so charged is presumed innocent of the allegations unless or until proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.