Truck driver in Florida Turnpike crash that killed 3 faces homicide charges as officials uncover illegal 2018 border entry
Details of the fatal crash
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said the crash took place when the truck driver attempted a U-turn at an unauthorized location. Officials said the maneuver was reckless and carried out 'without regard for the safety of others.' The impact left all three occupants of the minivan dead at the scene.
Troopers obtained a warrant for the driver, Harjinder Singh, charging him with three felony counts of vehicular homicide. Authorities have not confirmed whether Singh has legal representation in the criminal case.
Immigration status and deportation proceedings
During the investigation, state troopers, working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), learned Singh had crossed the Mexico border into the United States illegally in 2018. He later obtained a commercial driver's license in California.
Following his arrest, Florida authorities issued an ICE detainer, paving the way for deportation after his state charges are resolved. Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said Singh would not be allowed to endanger lives again. 'At the conclusion of his state charges, he will be deported,' Kerner stated.
Dispute over licensing and responsibility
The case has triggered political disagreement over how Singh obtained a work permit and a commercial driver's license. Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state's Department of Motor Vehicles, calling their handling of licensing 'asinine' and blaming it for the crash.
Newsom's office, however, responded by noting that Singh received a work permit in 2020 during Donald Trump's presidency. In a post directed at Trump, Newsom's office said the federal government had confirmed Singh met immigration requirements at that time.
McLaughlin disputed this, stating Singh's application had been denied under Trump in September 2020 and was later approved in June 2021 under the Biden Administration. She also clarified that commercial driver's licenses are issued by states, not at the federal level.
What comes next
Singh remains in custody facing vehicular homicide charges. If convicted, he will serve his sentence before deportation proceedings begin. The case highlights both the consequences of reckless driving on Florida's highways and ongoing disputes over state and federal responsibility in licensing and immigration enforcement.
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