Illegal trucker charged in fatal Florida crash that killed 3 after botched U-turn
Fort Pierce, FL — A semi-truck driver who entered the country illegally and later secured a commercial driver’s license in California is now charged with three counts of vehicular homicide after a deadly crash on the Florida Turnpike that left three people dead.
Harjinder Singh, 34, an Indian national, was arrested at the scene on August 12 after authorities say he made an illegal U-turn with his tractor-trailer in a restricted area near Fort Pierce, causing a multi-fatality collision. Singh’s trailer jackknifed across the northbound lanes, where a Chrysler Town & Country minivan slammed into the side of it, wedging itself under the trailer and killing all three occupants instantly.
“Today, I personally escorted the thug who took the lives of three Floridians. Harjinder Singh should never have been in this country, and he never should have been granted a CDL by California. Governor @GavinNewsom ‘s reckless policies put communities at risk, and Florida won’t stand for it. Lt. Governo Jay Collins.
Dashcam footage from inside Singh’s truck — now widely circulated online — shows the driver calmly executing the U-turn before the violent crash. Singh is then seen exiting his truck and walking around the wreckage as debris litters the highway. He did not appear injured and was taken into custody without incident.
Florida Highway Patrol and ICE investigators confirmed that Singh illegally crossed the U.S.–Mexico border near San Ysidro, California, in 2018. He was apprehended by Border Patrol, released on a $5,000 immigration bond in early 2019, and issued a Notice to Appear in immigration court after claiming asylum. Despite ongoing immigration proceedings, Singh was able to obtain a California Commercial Driver’s License and legally operate commercial vehicles
Collins, a former Green Beret personally escorted Singh into custody earlier this week, calling him a “thug” and blaming California Governor Gavin Newsom for policies that allowed Singh to be licensed.
“This never should’ve happened,” Collins posted on X. “Florida won’t stand for it.”
Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said Singh’s actions were “shocking and criminal,” adding that the tragedy was entirely preventable. Singh now faces both state charges and federal immigration proceedings and remains in custody.
Court documents show Singh’s next hearing in the vehicular homicide case is scheduled for later this month. Federal immigration officials confirmed deportation proceedings will follow once the criminal case concludes.
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Key Points
- Harjinder Singh, an undocumented immigrant with a California CDL, is charged with three counts of vehicular homicide after a fatal U-turn crash in Fort Pierce
- Dashcam video shows Singh calmly making an illegal turn before the crash that killed three people
- Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and is currently in both criminal and immigration custody