A commercial truck driver has been arrested and charged with three counts of vehicular homicide following a deadly crash on Florida’s Turnpike in St. Lucie County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
Troopers said the crash occurred Aug. 12 when a semi-truck attempted a U-turn at an unauthorized location, blocking the path of a minivan. All three occupants of the minivan were killed: a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach, a 54-year-old man from Miami, and the 30-year-old driver from Florida City.
The truck driver, Harjinder Singh, 35, was taken into custody. Troopers said Singh entered the United States illegally in 2018 and later obtained a commercial driver’s license in California. He is being held on state charges of vehicular homicide.
With assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FHP issued an immigration detainer under federal authority through the 287(g) program. Officials said Singh will face deportation following resolution of his criminal case.
“The actions taken by the Defendant while operating a commercial tractor-trailer are both shocking and criminal,”
said Executive Director Dave Kerner. “Three people lost their lives as a result of his recklessness, and countless friends and family members will experience the pain of their loss forever. Harjinder Singh is in custody on state vehicular homicide charges and immigration violations. He will no longer be able to damage and destroy the lives of Floridians and visitors. At the conclusion of his state charges, he will be deported."
The case has raised questions about California’s
Assembly Bill 60 (AB 60), which was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in October 2013 and took effect Jan. 1, 2015.
AB 60 allows undocumented immigrants to obtain standard driver’s licenses without proof of legal status, using an affidavit in place of a Social Security number. However, according to the California law, it excludes commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) from this exemption and requires CDL applicants to provide a valid Social Security number.
The bill states that applicants “unable to provide satisfactory proof that his or her presence in the United States is authorized under federal law may sign an affidavit attesting that he or she is both ineligible for a social security account number and unable to submit satisfactory proof that his or her presence in the United States is authorized under federal law,” but adds that it “shall not apply to applications for a commercial driver’s license. The department shall require all applications for a commercial driver’s license to include the applicant's social security account number.”
It remains unclear how Singh was able to obtain a commercial driver’s license in California despite his undocumented status and the requirements for CDLs.
On Aug. 18, Gov. Ron DeSantis
wrote on X: “Illegal alien issued CDL by California. Doesn’t even speak English. Sanctuary policies are deadly. Must hold the illegal alien accountable but also the other actors involved including the company.”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier
posted: “There will be accountability for this illegal alien’s reckless disregard for human life. He will not escape justice in Florida. Not on my watch.”
The Department of Homeland Security also
stated on social media: “Three innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California DMV issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License—this state of governance is asinine. How many more innocent people have to die before Gavin Newsom stops playing games with the safety of the American public? We pray for the victims and their families. Secretary Noem and DHS are working around the clock to protect the public and get these criminal illegal aliens out of America.”
The Florida Highway Patrol said it remains committed to enforcing both state and federal laws to ensure public safety. Singh is being held in custody pending trial.
