LAKE WORTH, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is dispatching Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins to California to extradite Harjinder Singh, the driver accused of causing a fatal crash on the Florida Turnpike that resulted in three deaths.
Authorities report that Singh, described as an undocumented immigrant, allegedly performed an illegal U-turn in a designated “official use only” zone on August 12. This maneuver led to a collision with a minivan, claiming the lives of three passengers: a 30-year-old man from Florida City, a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach, and a 54-year-old man from Miami.
During a press conference, DeSantis criticized the issuance of commercial driver's licenses to Singh in Washington and California, despite his limited English proficiency and unclear understanding of U.S. road signs. “That was obviously a total disaster,” DeSantis said.
Singh, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2018, faces three counts of vehicular homicide and remains in custody under an ICE detainer in California.
“We're going to throw the book at him when he gets back here,” DeSantis stated.
The Florida Highway Safety Executive Director, Dave Kerner, condemned Singh's actions, emphasizing the tragedy's impact on families and friends.
Lt. Collins is expected to take custody of Singh on Thursday morning. This is a developing story; updates will follow as more information becomes available.