Lede: A truck driver's illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike led to a deadly crash that killed three individuals on August 12.
Video footage shows Harjinder Singh, 28, making the illegal maneuver near mile marker 171 in Fort Pierce, resulting in a minivan colliding with his trailer. The impact left no time for the minivan's occupants to react.
According to authorities, Singh's tractor-trailer obstructed all northbound lanes at the time of the accident. All three victims, from Broward and Miami-Dade counties, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not yet been released.
Singh was arrested and faces three counts of vehicular homicide. He remains in custody at the St. Lucie County Jail, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issuing a detainer for his deportation after the state proceedings.
Federal records indicate Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and obtained a Commercial Driver's License in California under Assembly Bill 60, which allows undocumented immigrants to apply for driver's licenses.
The incident has drawn criticism from various officials. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner condemned Singh's actions, stating they caused unnecessary harm. The Department of Homeland Security also attributed the tragedy to California's licensing policies.
Florida law prohibits commercial trucks from using “Official Use Only” U-turns on highways. Investigators confirmed that Singh's violation directly contributed to the fatal crash.