Charges Filed In Pittsburgh-Area Man's Submerged Car Death

CHEAT LAKE, WV — A truck driver has been charged in connection with the death of a Fayette County man whose body was found in his submerged car in Cheat Lake near Morgantown in January.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Sukhjinder Singh of New York, who has been charged with negligent homicide.

According to the Mongolia County Sheriff's Office, deputies on Jan. 19 responded to a report of a jack-knifed tractor-trailer on the Cheat Lake Bridge. The driver of the tractor, Singh, told them he lost control of his vehicle during a severe snowstorm.

Later that day, the Morgantown Police Department received a missing person’s report for Kevin C. Lataille, 59, of Smithfield. His family last spoke with him while he was driving home from his shift at Eat N Park in Morgantown.

On January 23, 2025, Morgantown police obtained location data from Lataille’s phone placing his his last known location near the Cheat Lake Bridge. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the area, which revealed a large vehicle sliding on the bridge, throwing snow into the air, and a separate passenger vehicle falling from the bridge into the lake.

Aerial drone footage later confirmed the presence of a submerged vehicle in Cheat Lake near the location shown in the surveillance footage. Due to severe weather and dangerous conditions on the lake, a recovery mission was scheduled for January 26. With the assistance of multiple agencies, the vehicle was successfully recovered and Lataille was found dead inside.

Following weeks of investigation, Monongalia County sheriff's detectives and an accident reconstructionist team determined that Singh’s tractor was traveling at an unsafe speed despite hazardous road conditions.

"Witness testimony described Singh's driving as reckless and even criminal," a release from the sheriff's office stated. "Investigators also confirmed that Singh’s tractor had struck another vehicle prior to reaching the bridge and failed to stop."

Further examination of Lataille’s vehicle confirmed damage consistent with a collision involving Singh’s tractor, specifically at the driver’s side rear of Lataille’s car. This impact ultimately sent the vehicle off the bridge and into Cheat Lake, police said.

On February 28, with the assistance of a translator, law enforcement interviewed Singh. Police said he admitted to driving the tractor at the time of the accident but denied striking any vehicles or driving recklessly.

Police said that Singh was operating the suspect tractor in a reckless manner and struck multiple vehicles, including Lataille’s, while driving at unsafe speeds for the road conditions.

"Singh’s reckless driving directly caused the fatal crash that resulted in Kevin C. Lataille’s tragic death," the release stated.

Police said further charges against Singh could be filed.