Charges also amended

SIDNEY -- Gurjeet Singh, 25, of Fresno, Calif., the truck driver in the May 5 accident that resulted in two injured teen girls and a fatality, sought the case be continued. 

Singh was scheduled to appear for his preliminary hearing on June 26. His attorney, Don Miller of Sidney, said in the Motion to Continue that Singh was experiencing COVID symptoms. 

The Cheyenne County courts do have the option of remote appearances.Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub said courts prefer in-person appearances for preliminary hearings, especially when an interpreter is needed. The Motion to Continue sought a new date 15 days after the scheduled preliminary hearing at a time and date to be set by the court. 

Schaub said he is not pursuing a manslaughter charge since the death of Lori Wiens, 48, of Sidney, a passenger in the sedan in the collision, because it is being addressed by the felony Motor Vehicle Homicide charge. Schaub also added Second Degree Assault to Singh's charges  to address the injuries suffered by the teen girls in the car.

Motor Vehicle Homicide is a Class IIIA felony with a maximum of three years imprisonment plus post release supervision. A Second Degree Assault charge is a IIA felony with a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

Singh was arrested following a fatal crash in Cheyenne County.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Link 17J and Old Post Road in Sidney. 

According to a Nebraska State Patrol report, preliminary investigation showed a Nissan Maxima was eastbound on Old Post Road in Sidney when it was struck on the passenger side by a truck-trailer traveling northbound on Link 17J. Troopers discovered that the semi had run a red light at the intersection and collided with the Nissan.

A passenger in the Nissan, Lori Wiens, 48, of Sidney, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The two other occupants of the Nissan, 16-year-old females, were transported to Sidney Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Singh was arrested for motor vehicle homicide and willful reckless driving and transported to Cheyenne County Jail.