Undocumented Truck Driver Charged in Fatal Florida Turnpike Crash

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — Over 2.8 million people have signed a petition asking Florida officials for leniency for Harjinder Singh, an undocumented driver charged in a crash that killed three people on the Florida Turnpike.

On August 14, 2025, Singh, 28, was operating a 2024 International semi-truck near mile marker 171 when he attempted an illegal U-turn in an “official use only” area. His trailer crossed all northbound lanes, colliding with a 2015 Chrysler Town & Country minivan. All three occupants of the minivan died.

Singh originally faced three counts of vehicular homicide but was later charged with three additional counts of manslaughter following a court appearance on August 23. He was extradited from California, where he had fled after the incident.

The Collective Punjabi Youth initiated the petition, urging Governor Ron DeSantis to reconsider Singh's sentence, claiming the incident was an accident rather than a deliberate act. Supporters argue that a lengthy sentence could be unjust, drawing comparisons to the case of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos in Colorado.

According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, Singh's actions have been described as reckless. Authorities stated that he did not check on the victims after the crash and seemed to show no remorse.

Singh entered the United States illegally in 2018 and obtained a commercial driver's license in California. After the crash, federal authorities initiated deportation proceedings against him.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles confirmed that Singh's illegal U-turn blocked all lanes of traffic, leading to the fatalities. Investigators continue to address the incident as a complex and tragic case.