FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A crash on Florida's Turnpike on Aug. 12 left three people dead and has raised concerns over an undocumented immigrant's commercial driver's license.
Authorities reported that Harjinder Singh, 35, attempted an illegal U-turn near mile marker 170, placing his semi-truck directly in the path of a minivan. The collision resulted in the deaths of all three passengers in the minivan. Singh is facing three counts of vehicular homicide.
Singh, originally from India, held a valid California commercial driver's license, prompting criticism from Governor Ron DeSantis. “He should never have been here. He certainly shouldn't have gotten a commercial driver's license from California,” DeSantis stated.
Following the crash, Singh and a passenger reportedly traveled to Sacramento. On Aug. 16, U.S. Marshals arrested Singh in Stockton, California, after a tip-off. He was taken into custody without incident and is now held at the San Joaquin County Jail pending an immigration detainer from ICE.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi referred to Singh as a “dangerous illegal alien,” attributing his licensure to California's sanctuary policies, while U.S. Marshals Director Gadyaces Serralta lauded the arrest as a success across multiple states and agencies.
The incident has reignited discussions regarding immigration enforcement, state licensing laws, and public safety on highways.