A devastating crash in 2024 left a young California girl, Dalilah Coleman, with life-altering injuries, and her father now claims Governor Gavin Newsom has turned a blind eye to their pleas for help.
At just 5 years old, Dalilah was caught in a multi-vehicle pileup caused by an 18-wheeler driven by Partap Singh, an unauthorized migrant from India, who was speeding through a construction zone and failed to stop, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Now 7, Dalilah remains nonverbal, is relearning to walk, and faces lifelong challenges after spending weeks in a coma and months in hospital care.
The issue has sparked heated debate over state policies and accountability. Marcus Coleman, Dalilah’s father, has voiced frustration not just with the lack of support but with California’s broader approach to issuing commercial driver’s licenses to those without legal status. The family’s struggle has become a flashpoint for critics of current leadership.
After the accident, Marcus Coleman reached out to Newsom’s office through phone calls and emails, only to receive no response, as he shared on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show,” reported by the New York Post. “I received nothing back at all,” Coleman said, highlighting a void where he expected at least acknowledgment. The silence stings deeper given the family’s dire need for assistance.
Dalilah’s injuries are staggering: a broken femur, skull fractures, and diagnoses of diplegic cerebral palsy and global developmental delay. Unable to eat orally, she requires lifelong therapy, yet Coleman says even Social Security benefits were denied. The burden falls squarely on the family, with no safety net in sight.
“It’s just kind of left up to us to sit there and take care of what we need to take care of,” Coleman told host Will Cain. That raw honesty cuts through bureaucratic fog, revealing a system that seems to shrug at personal tragedy. How does a state justify such apparent indifference?
Coleman, a truck driver himself, didn’t hold back on California’s decision to grant commercial licenses to unauthorized migrants, calling it “gross negligence.” He argues the state prioritizes political optics over public safety, a sentiment that lands hard when a child’s life is shattered. The crash wasn’t just an accident; it was a preventable failure, he suggests.
Singh, who entered the U.S. illegally via the southern border in 2022 and was released by federal authorities, held a state-issued commercial license despite his status. Only after a 2025 audit did California revoke 17,000 such licenses when expiration dates exceeded legal residency limits. That’s a staggering number, and it begs the question of oversight.
“I think they’re trying to do what’s going to favor them in the long run, no matter how many people it hurts,” Coleman said. His words aren’t just grief; they’re a pointed critique of leadership that seems more invested in narratives than results. Safety shouldn’t be a partisan pawn.
Governor Newsom’s only public comment on the tragedy came via a social media post last September, where he deflected blame to federal policies. “The FEDERAL government issued the driver a federal work permit (and RENEWED IT AFTER THE ACCIDENT), making him eligible for a driver’s license,” Newsom wrote on X. It’s a classic pass-the-buck move, sidestepping state-level accountability.
Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy countered sharply, posting on X that “California’s weak leadership is failing Americans like Dalilah every day.” His jab underscores a growing chorus of frustration with policies that appear to prioritize ideology over citizen welfare. The clash between state and federal narratives leaves families like the Colemans caught in the crossfire.
Newsom’s office has offered no further comment, even when pressed by media outlets. That silence speaks volumes when a father is left scrambling to meet his daughter’s needs. If leadership means anything, shouldn’t it start with listening?
Marcus Coleman’s struggle isn’t just about medical bills; it’s about a system that seems to have forgotten the human cost of its decisions. “I’m here trying to make ends meet to satisfy her needs,” he said, a weary admission of falling short despite every effort. The weight of that reality is crushing.
Dalilah’s recovery, marked by a craniectomy and months without half her skull, is a testament to resilience, but also a reminder of what’s at stake when policies fail. Critics argue California must rethink its approach to licensing and support for victims of such tragedies. A child’s future shouldn’t hinge on political gamesmanship.
As this case gains traction, it’s a wake-up call for accountability at every level of government. Families deserve more than platitudes or finger-pointing between state and federal officials. If Dalilah’s story doesn’t prompt change, what will?
