ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Harjinder Singh, a truck driver, is facing six forcible felony charges, including three counts of vehicular homicide, following a crash on the Florida Turnpike that killed three people on August 12.
Authorities say Singh, 28, entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 but obtained a commercial driver's license in California. Witnesses reported seeing a semi-truck collide with a minivan near mile marker 171, resulting in two deaths at the scene: Rodrigue Dor and Faniola Joseph. The minivan's driver, Herby Dufresne, was rescued but later died in the hospital due to severe injuries.
Emergency responders had to remove the minivan's rear hatch to free the victims. Court documents indicate the minivan showed no signs of braking or evasive maneuvers during the incident.
Troopers stated Singh attempted an illegal U-turn through an access point labeled “Official Use Only,” blocking all northbound lanes and preventing the minivan from reacting. Singh's passenger, Harneet Singh, mentioned he was on his phone and unaware of the U-turn.
A judge denied Singh bond, citing a significant flight risk. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner criticized Singh's ability to secure a commercial driver's license and labeled his actions as “shocking and criminal.”
Sikhs for Justice announced an offer of $100,000 to the families of the victims. A civil rights lawyer claimed Singh's actions were not intentional or malicious.