A truck driver from India has been taken into custody in Florida after making an improper U-turn that reportedly led to the deaths of three individuals. The driver, named Harjinder Singh, entered the United States in 2018.
He was initially set for deportation but was permitted to stay in the US after alleging a threat to his life in India, according to a report by the New York Post, which cited unnamed police sources.
As per the report, Singh was released on a $5,000 immigration bond in January 2019, and he has been in immigration proceedings since then.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) stated on Saturday that Singh later obtained a commercial driver’s license in California.
The Accident
Singh was arrested on a warrant for three counts of vehicular homicide, linked to a deadly accident in Florida that occurred around 3 pm last Thursday. Authorities reported that Singh’s truck made a sharp left turn on the Florida Turnpike near Fort Pierce, attempting to cross the median using an ‘Official Use Only’ pass.
This maneuver blocked all lanes of traffic, leading to a minivan crashing into the trailer at high speed. The minivan became lodged underneath the trailer, resulting in the immediate death of two passengers, while the driver later succumbed to injuries at a hospital.
Neither Singh nor a passenger in his semi-truck sustained injuries, as reported by the Florida Highway Patrol. Singh is currently in custody with a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold and faces three counts of vehicular homicide.
FLHSMV Director Dave Kerner expressed that Singh’s actions while operating the commercial vehicle were both alarming and criminal, emphasizing that three lives were lost due to his recklessness, which will leave a lasting impact on their friends and family.
