Indian Truck Driver Faces Deportation After Fatal Florida Crash

Inset Photo: United States Marshal Service

Crash Photo: St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office

India-West News Desk

MIAMI, FL – An Indian national who entered the United States illegally in 2018 now faces deportation following a tragic crash in Florida that killed three people. Harjinder Singh, 28, was driving a commercial semi-truck on the Florida Turnpike near Fort Pierce on August 12 when he allegedly attempted an illegal U-turn, causing his trailer to jackknife and collide with a minivan, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

Two passengers in the minivan, a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach and a 54-year-old man from Miami, died at the scene, while the 30-year-old driver later succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Video footage from inside Singh’s truck capturing the moment of impact has circulated widely.

Singh, who crossed into the U.S. near San Ysidro, California, in 2018 without inspection, was arrested by Border Patrol two days later and processed for expedited removal. A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) review of his fear claim allowed him to post a $5,000 immigration bond, and he has been in pending immigration proceedings ever since, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

FLHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner called the incident “both shocking and criminal,” noting that Singh is in custody on vehicular homicide charges as well as immigration violations. “Three people lost their lives as a result of his recklessness… At the conclusion of his state charges, he will be deported,” Kerner said.

Singh faces three counts of negligent manslaughter under Florida law, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Deportation proceedings could follow once the criminal case concludes.

The crash has reignited debate over the licensing of undocumented immigrants. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told reporters, “Illegal aliens that have no legal right to be in our country… certainly should not be granted commercial drivers licenses.”

Authorities confirmed that Singh holds a California commercial driver’s license issued in 2018. DHS said he has claimed that he is unmarried, has no minor dependents, and is not a victim of domestic abuse or human trafficking in the U.S.

Singh’s immigration proceedings have been ongoing for years, with hearings rescheduled multiple times across the country. In 2024, a judge granted a change of venue from Seattle to San Francisco, and on August 16, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed an I-247A detainer with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation remains active. FLHSMV said troopers and federal authorities are continuing to review the circumstances of the crash to ensure that Singh faces accountability under both state and federal law.