MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The truck driver who pled guilty in connection with the I-68 crash that killed Kevin Lataille has been sentenced to the maximum in Monongalia County.
In January of 2025, Singh was accused of driving a tractor-trailer recklessly on I-68 eastbound during a snowstorm and pushing a car driven by Kevin Lataille of Pennsylvania over the side of the bridge into the icy lake.
Lataille’s body and car were recovered from the lake one week after the accident.
Monongalia County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Benchoff said the judge followed sentencing guidelines under the old law, which is one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
“Singh pled guilty to vehicular homicide, a.k.a. negligent homicide,” Benchoff said. “Thankfully the judge made the correct decision and imposed the maximum penalty for that crime as it existed back in January.”
The law increasing the penalties and adding felony options for prosecutors, House Bill 2871, went into effect July 10, 2025. The bill changes the crime of vehicular homicide from a misdemeanor to a felony and expands definitions and penalties related to vehicular homicide and related offenses. The legislation adds new categories of vehicular homicide, including vehicular homicide by recklessness, aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide in a school zone, and vehicular homicide in a construction zone that come with graduated penalties, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, with potential fines up to $20,000 and prison sentences up to 10 years.
“Thankfully, our legislature has made some changes this year, maybe in pursuance to the death of Kevin, so now there will be further and more strict penalties,” Benchoff said. “That includes potential felony convictions and prison time for this exact same crime.”
His wife, Lisa, reported Kevin missing in January after the accident that occurred in very limited visibility. One week after the crash, she was along the banks of Cheat Lake when his car and body were pulled from the water. On Monday, Lisa, with other family members, came to the courtroom wearing purple shirts, calling for justice.
“I want people to know how good of a guy he was and that he got along with everybody,” Lisa Lataille said. “He had a wonderful heart and would help anybody.”
The prosecution and family were satisfied with the verdict and relieved the process has come to an end.
“The maximum penalty sadly then was just a misdemeanor, but we are grateful, and the family is grateful that the maximum penalty of one year in jail and a fine of $1,000 was imposed,” Benchoff said.
Because Singh challenged his extradition order from California, he will receive substantially less credit for time served there. Additionally, Singh will also be eligible for aggravated felony deportation once his sentence has been served.
“So, because of that and because of his challenge to the authority of our court to bring him back here, he will have significantly less time served on this crime than he would have otherwise.”