FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — Harjinder Singh, 28, appeared in St. Lucie County court Wednesday, facing charges related to a Florida Turnpike crash that killed three on August 12.
Efforts to quash an attorney's notice of appearance were denied by the judge during the hearing. The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear Florida's lawsuit against California and Washington regarding driver licensing practices tied to the case.
Authorities reported that Singh made an illegal U-turn through an “Official Use Only” crossover near mile marker 171, obstructing northbound traffic and causing the fatal crash. Witnesses and investigators confirmed that the minivan involved had no time to react.
Singh has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which sparked discussions on commercial driver licensing standards and immigration issues. Federal records indicated he entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and obtained commercial driver's licenses in California and Washington.
The fallout from the incident prompted testimony from St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro Jr. before Congress, highlighting lapses in the commercial licensing system. Florida has since imposed stricter regulations for commercial drivers.
As the case unfolds, Singh remains in custody without bond in St. Lucie County.