Rajinder Kumar, the truck driver accused in a November crash that killed a newlywed couple east of Bend, has pleaded not guilty in Deschutes County court, setting the stage for a lengthy legal fight. The plea, entered Tuesday, comes more than four months after the Nov. 24, 2025, wreck on U.S. Highway 20 that killed William Micah Carter and Jennifer Lynn Lower. Kumar remains in the Deschutes County Jail on $500,000 bail as prosecutors and defense attorneys gear up for a full trial.
According to The Bulletin, Kumar, 32, entered his not guilty plea on March 30 and faces two counts of first degree manslaughter and three counts of recklessly endangering another person. The paper reports that his latest appearance followed earlier scheduling delays and procedural motions, and that the court has set a two week jury trial to begin Jan. 19, 2027.
Crash details and victims
Investigators say Kumar’s Freightliner jackknifed and came to rest across both lanes near milepost 51 on U.S. Highway 20, where it was struck at highway speed by a westbound Subaru Outback. The Nov. 24 collision killed 25 year old William Micah Carter and 24 year old Jennifer Lynn Lower, who had just returned from their honeymoon, according to family members and prior reporting. Troopers cited dark conditions and a lack of active emergency warning equipment around the rig as primary factors while the investigation continued. Oregon State Police reported the crash details.
Immigration detainer and federal response
The Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an arrest detainer for Kumar after the crash. The agency told local reporters that Kumar entered the United States near Lukeville, Arizona, in November 2022 and later obtained work authorization and a California commercial driver’s license. Local television coverage of the DHS release quoted federal officials describing Kumar as an immigration violator and said ICE would seek custody if local authorities released him. KPTV carried the DHS material and related quotes.
Family reaction and local context
Family members and local reporting say Carter and Lower had been married only 16 days before the crash and were driving back to Oregon after a honeymoon in California. One victim’s mother told reporters she was frustrated by the political spotlight on the driver’s immigration status and said her daughter and son in law would have been “broken hearted” by the rhetoric. OPB and other outlets have noted that the case has been pulled into a broader federal push to scrutinize how noncitizens receive commercial driver credentials.
What’s next in court
Court records and local reporting show Kumar has waived his right to a speedy trial and that his bail was raised to $500,000. He appeared with a Hindi interpreter in earlier hearings. Prosecutors say they will continue reviewing evidence gathered by the Oregon State Police collision reconstruction unit as they prepare for the January trial, while defense lawyers have pressed procedural and scheduling issues. According to The Bulletin, the case is slated for a two week jury trial beginning Jan. 19, 2027.
Deschutes County prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday, and defense counsel did not offer an on the record statement at the courthouse. Expect a steady run of pretrial scheduling and discovery motions in the coming months as both sides build their cases.
