Grieving Mother Confronts Truck Driver Accused of Killing Newlyweds

A grieving mother has confronted the truck driver accused of killing her son and his wife in an Oregon crash, expressing empathy for his situation. Elizabeth Carter, mother of William Carter, spoke to Rajinder Kumar, 32, who is facing charges in connection with the November 2025 deaths of her son and his newlywed wife.

Video released by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement (VOICE) office shows Carter addressing Kumar as he was being transferred between facilities. Fighting back tears, she stated, "My name is Elizabeth Carter; I'm William Micah Carter's mother. And I wanted you to know that I pray for you and your family. I know you didn't get up that morning planning to kill two newlyweds. And I know your family is going through something important too."

Kumar is charged with two counts of first-degree manslaughter and three counts of recklessly endangering another person in Deschutes County. The crash occurred on November 24, 2025, when Kumar allegedly jackknifed his commercial tractor-trailer across U.S. Highway 20, blocking both lanes. The couple's vehicle struck the semi, resulting in their deaths. William Carter, 25, and Jennifer Lynn Lower, 24, had been married for 16 days.

According to court and immigration records, Kumar entered the U.S. unlawfully in November 2022 near Lukeville, Arizona. He was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol and released pending removal proceedings. He reportedly obtained federal work authorization and a Commercial Driver's License from California during this time.

Following his indictment in Oregon, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer against Kumar. However, Deschutes County officials declined to honor the federal detainer on April 2, releasing Kumar under Oregon's sanctuary policies. ICE agents apprehended Kumar on April 22 in connection with his immigration case and detained him at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington.

ICE has since returned Kumar to Deschutes County authorities to face the state's criminal charges before any federal deportation proceedings are finalized. "Two Americans lost their lives, and their families deserve accountability," said Julio Hernandez, acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Seattle. "ICE worked closely with law-enforcement partners to ensure Kumar is returned to state custody to answer for the serious charges against him. This coordinated action protects the public, supports the victims' families, and ensures that an individual accused of these crimes does not evade justice."

Federal deportation proceedings are on hold while Oregon state prosecutors pursue the criminal case against Kumar, with his criminal trial pending in Deschutes County Circuit Court. Elizabeth Carter, who identified herself as a lifelong Democrat, has expressed shame over her party's stance on immigration following the incident.