FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A deadly crash occurred on the Florida Turnpike on August 12, resulting in three fatalities. According to authorities, Harjinder Singh, 28, was driving a semi-truck when he made an illegal U-turn, crossing all northbound lanes near mile marker 171, before a minivan collided with his trailer.
The minivan, carrying three individuals from Broward and Miami-Dade counties, was unable to brake in time. All three occupants were pronounced dead, and their identities have not been released. Singh was arrested at the scene and faces three counts of vehicular homicide. He remains in the St. Lucie County Jail, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filing a detainer for his deportation following the completion of his case.
Singh is reportedly undocumented, having entered the U.S. illegally through the southern border in 2018. He obtained a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in California, where laws permit undocumented immigrants to apply for licenses without proof of legal residency.
The crash has drawn scrutiny from Florida officials, with Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner criticizing Singh’s actions. The Department of Homeland Security has pointed to California’s licensing policy as contributing to the incident, which has raised concerns within the trucking industry regarding driver qualifications.
Florida law prohibits commercial trucks from using “Official Use Only” turnarounds on highways. An investigation into the crash is ongoing.