South Asian-origin man in Ohio charged over deadly crash pleads not guilty; pregnant teen killed in accident

Tarsem Singh, a South Asian-origin man, accused of causing a high-speed chase and deadly crash in Ohio that killed 17-year-old Ashlee Holmes, who was pregnant at the time, has pleaded not guilty.

The crash took place in February when Singh was driving 100 miles per hour. Singh was driving a Land Rover Range Rover Velar which crashed head-on into a Jeep Cherokee. The driver of the Jeep was injured but conscious and alert. 17-year-old Ashlee Holmes, the passenger in the Range Rover Velar was ejected from the vehicle and later pronounced deceased. Singh was taken to an area hospital for injuries and later arrested.Singh’s bond is set at $1 million. He is also on an asylum case, meaning if convicted he could be deported.According to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy clocked Singh driving 100 miles per hour, leading to a pursuit for about 5 miles on February 16. The crash happened as the two vehicles made their way onto SR-47 and Ansonia Hunchbarger Road.When the deputy saw Singh's car speeding, he turned on his cruiser's emergency lights and sirens but Singh attempted to flee and as Singh accelerated his car, it crashed into the car in which Holmes was sitting on the passenger's seat.

A grand jury indicted Tarsem Singh on two counts each of involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide and aggravated vehicular homicide and one count each of vehicular assault and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officerOne report claimed that Holmes' family confirmed to Salm-McGill-Tangeman Funeral Home that Singh was the father of Holmes’ child.