FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A deadly crash on the Florida Turnpike resulted in three fatalities on August 12, as authorities identified the driver as an undocumented immigrant with a California commercial license.
The incident occurred near mile marker 171 when Harjinder Singh, 28, made an illegal U-turn at an “Official Use Only” access point, resulting in a collision with a minivan that was unable to brake in time. All three occupants of the minivan, who have not yet been identified, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Singh was arrested and faces three counts of vehicular homicide. He is currently held in the St. Lucie County Jail, where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has filed a detainer for his deportation after the state case concludes.
According to federal records, Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and obtained a commercial driver's license under California's Assembly Bill 60, which allows undocumented immigrants to apply for licenses without proof of legal residency.
The incident has drawn criticism from Florida officials and the Department of Homeland Security. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia blamed California's licensing policy for the crash, stating it endangered public safety.
Florida law prohibits commercial vehicles from using “Official Use Only” turnarounds, and Singh's actions are being investigated as a direct cause of the fatal collision.