Investigation Finds California DMV Failed to Act on Some Drivers After Fatal Crashes
A CalMatters investigation has found that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has repeatedly failed to suspend or revoke commercial driver's licenses for drivers involved in fatal crashes, allowing them to continue operating large vehicles. The report highlights cases…
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, October 20, 2026 —
A CalMatters investigation found that the California Department of Motor Vehicles repeatedly failed to suspend or revoke commercial driver’s licenses for drivers involved in fatal crashes. According to the investigation summary, some drivers continued operating large vehicles after those crashes.
The report highlights the case of Baljit Singh, who killed Jenny Chow in 2022 after a prior fatal crash in 2021. It also identifies Marco Rodriguez, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2018. Rodriguez continued to receive tickets, and his license was renewed until a recent intervention, the summary said.
The summary does not specify the number of drivers involved, the circumstances of the crashes, or the reasons the DMV did not act sooner in these cases. It also does not describe the recent intervention involving Rodriguez or state his current licensing status.
The investigation contrasts the DMV’s delayed or absent action on commercial licenses with its pursuit of vehicle registration fees from the Chow family. The summary provides no details about the amounts sought or the timing of that collection effort.
The findings raise public-safety concerns across California, including the Bay Area, according to the summary. Further details about the investigation’s scope, the DMV’s response, and any policy changes were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Gilare Zada on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.
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