Harjinder Singh, the truck driver involved in the August 12 Florida Turnpike crash that killed three people, made his first court appearance on Saturday before Judge Lauren Sweet in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Singh, who was originally charged with three counts of vehicular homicide, now faces three additional charges of manslaughter.
Judge Sweet ordered no bond, citing Singh as an unauthorised alien and substantial flight risk, meaning he will remain in custody at the St. Lucie County Jail as the case proceeds.
A translator was present during Singh’s court appearance as earlier it was revealed that Singh failed an English Language Proficiency test, correctly answering only 2 of 12 verbal questions and recognising just 1 of 4 highway traffic signs, yet was still issued a California commercial driver’s licence to operate an 18-wheeler.
An ICE hold has also been placed on Singh, and U.S. immigration officials have issued a deportation order, with Singh expected to serve his prison sentence before being returned to India.
The crash occurred around 3 p.m. on August 12 near mile marker 171 in Fort Pierce, when Singh attempted an illegal U-turn at an “Official Use Only Turn Around” while driving a semi-truck in the northbound lanes.
A Chrysler Town & Country minivan travelling in the inside lane could not avoid the collision and became wedged under the trailer, killing all three passengers — two at the scene and the driver later in hospital, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Singh fled Florida after the crash with his brother Harneet Singh, 25, who was a passenger in the truck. Harneet was later arrested by ICE on August 18 as an undocumented immigrant from India and is now facing removal proceedings.
Border Patrol records indicate Harneet was previously encountered in May 2023 but released under the Biden Administration.
The Department of Homeland Security said it will work with the U.S. Department of Transportation to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining commercial driving licences in sanctuary jurisdictions, citing the dangers posed to American drivers and passengers.
Officials, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, along with multiple law enforcement agencies, continue to oversee the investigation into the fatal crash.
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