Fatal Truck Collision on Highway 99 Kills Two, Driver Flees Scene

A Freightliner Cascadia commercial truck, operated by Amritsar Trans Inc., was involved in a deadly accident on Highway 99 near Lodi, California, on May 19, 2026. The truck rear-ended three other vehicles, leading to the deaths of two young men. Following the collision, the driver of the Freightliner Cascadia abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.

Amritsar Trans Inc. is identified as a five-truck carrier based in Manteca, California. Investigations into the carrier reveal it is part of a larger network of 267 carriers operating from residential addresses within the same ZIP code. Furthermore, the carrier has been subject to 10 involuntary revocation actions, raising questions about its operational compliance and safety record.

For freight forwarders and operations managers, this incident underscores the critical importance of rigorous due diligence when selecting road carriers, particularly for last-mile or regional distribution in California. The involvement of a carrier with a history of revocation actions and its connection to a complex web of other carriers could indicate potential risks related to insurance, regulatory compliance, and overall reliability. Forwarders should verify carrier safety ratings, operational licenses, and insurance coverage to mitigate risks and ensure the integrity of their supply chains. This event may lead to increased scrutiny of smaller, clustered carriers in the region, potentially affecting capacity and pricing for less-vetted operators.