FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — More than 2.5 million people have signed a petition urging leniency for Harjinder Singh, a truck driver accused of causing a crash that killed three people in Fort Pierce.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Singh, 28, was driving a 2024 International semi-tractor-trailer 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, resulting in all three occupants' deaths.
Singh is currently facing charges including three counts of vehicular homicide, with three additional counts of manslaughter added during his first court appearance after being extradited from California.
The Collective Punjabi Youth started the petition on Change.org, claiming the charges do not accurately represent the circumstances of the incident. They argue that Singh has no prior record and should be considered for parole after serving a fair portion of his sentence.
Authorities emphasized the severity of Singh's actions. St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro stated Singh demonstrated no remorse after the collision and did not attempt to check on the victims. He noted that Singh had been living in the U.S. illegally since 2018 and expressed concerns about Singh's driving capabilities during the investigation.
The Florida Highway Patrol remains focused on enforcing both state and federal laws, promising justice for those affected by the crash.