ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — An illegal immigrant was arrested following a deadly crash on Florida's Turnpike on Tuesday.
According to authorities, a semi-truck attempted a U-turn in an “official use only” area, leading to a collision with a minivan. All three occupants of the minivan were killed. The victims have been identified as a 30-year-old man from Florida City, a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach, and a 54-year-old man from Miami.
The truck driver, Harjinder Singh, faces three counts of vehicular homicide. At the time of the crash, a 25-year-old passenger was present in the vehicle with him. Officials reported that Singh entered the U.S. illegally by crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in 2018.
Commercial truck driver Grant Maxey condemned Singh's actions as reckless and avoidable, emphasizing alternative routes available to him.
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner issued a statement, saying, “Three people lost their lives as a result of his recklessness… Harjinder Singh is in custody on state vehicular homicide charges and immigration violations.”
Singh is currently detained under an ICE hold. After facing state charges, authorities indicated he would be deported.