ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A crash involving a semi truck and a minivan on Florida's Turnpike led to the deaths of three individuals on August 12.
Authorities reported that Harjinder Singh, the truck driver, had entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 but still obtained a commercial driving license in California. Witnesses reported seeing Singh attempt an illegal U-turn near mile marker 171, blocking all northbound lanes.
Fire rescue had to extricate the minivan's occupants, with two passengers, Rodrigue Dor and Faniola Joseph, pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Herby Dufresne, was rescued alive but later succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Troopers noted the minivan showed no signs of braking or evasive maneuvers.
Singh's passenger, Harneet Singh, stated he was on his phone when the U-turn was attempted and expressed confusion about the decision. Both Men were driving from Melbourne to Miami and possessed valid licenses. Singh refused to speak to law enforcement without a lawyer present.
St. Lucie County Judge Lauren Sweet denied bond for Singh, citing a substantial flight risk. He faces six felony charges, including three counts of vehicular homicide. Following the incident, both Singh and his passenger were terminated from their positions by the trucking company.
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles officials criticized the circumstances under which Singh obtained his license, describing his actions as “shocking and criminal.” Governor Ron DeSantis termed the crash an avoidable tragedy, emphasizing the reckless nature of Singh's maneuver.