A newlywed couple traveling from California to Oregon has died after an unfortunate car crash. William Micah Carter and Jennifer Lynn Lower were driving home from their honeymoon when their car collided with a Freightliner truck that had jackknifed in the middle of the highway. Now, the driver of the truck is facing several serious charges. Because he may be in the country illegally, he has been deemed a flight risk and is facing possible harsher punishment.
Oregon State Police responded to the two-vehicle crash around 9:30 p.m. on November 24, 2025, officials shared via a news release. According to the release, Carter, 25, was driving westbound when he struck the Freightliner, which was “stopped in a jacknifed position, blocking both lanes of travel, with the tractor facing eastbound in the eastbound lane.”
Police said both Carter and Lower, 24, were declared dead at the scene. The driver of the truck, 32-year-old Rajinder Kumar, was uninjured.
“Dark conditions and a lack of active emergency warning equipment is being considered a primary contributor of the crash,” police shared in the release. Kumar was initially charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangering.
Lower’s father, Tom Lower, told The Bulletin that the couple had gotten married on November 8. They had gone to Disneyland for their honeymoon and were driving back to Oregon to settle in Salem after the trip. The newlywed couple had only been married for 16 days.
After his arrest, Kumar became the subject of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest detainer. The US Department of Homeland Security accused him of coming into the country illegally at the Arizona border three years ago.
Although Kumar’s bail was initially set for $100,000, it was then raised to $250,000, KTVZ reported. The deputy district attorney, Caleb Staats, asked a judge to keep the man from leaving the state, saying “we do anticipate more serious charges being brought.” Judge Randy Miller agreed, telling Kumar he could “not leave the state of Oregon – period – at this point.”
Tom Lower and his wife, who live in Idaho, expressed support of the decision because they reportedly had concerns about Kumar’s immigration status.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and we wish to see justice served,” Lower told the court via phone.
On December 3, Kumar was arraigned on more serious charges of first-degree manslaughter, the outlet reported. His bail was again raised, this time doubling to $500,000. He faces multiple charges including two counts of first-degree manslaughter and three counts of recklessly endangering another person.
The new charges accuse Kumar of causing the newlywed couple’s deaths “under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life,” per KTVZ. Each manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years. The judge set a plea hearing for December 23.
