ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Harjinder Singh's actions prior to a crash on Florida's Turnpike, which resulted in three fatalities, are under investigation.

Authorities confirmed that Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 but managed to obtain a commercial driving license in California. A witness reported the incident involving a semi truck and a minivan on August 12, prompting a 911 call. Upon returning to the scene, the witness saw Singh using a hammer to break a window of the minivan in an attempt to assist the trapped occupants.

Fire rescue personnel had to remove the minivan's rear hatch to extract the victims. Rodrigue Dor and Faniola Joseph were pronounced dead at the scene, while driver Herby Dufresne was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Troopers noted no evidence of braking or evasive maneuvers from the minivan, and communication with the driver was hampered by language barriers.

Singh's passenger, Harneet Singh, reported he was distracted on his phone and did not understand why Harjinder attempted a U-turn through an “Official Use Only” access point, blocking northbound lanes. Singh, 28, faces multiple felony charges, including three counts of vehicular homicide. A judge denied him bond, citing a flight risk.

Sikhs for Justice announced they would offer $100,000 to the victims' families, while Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner condemned Singh's actions as “shocking and criminal.” An ongoing investigation continues.