A truck driver, Harjinder Singh, has been denied bond following accusations of making an illegal U-turn that resulted in the tragic death of three individuals in Florida last week. This incident has not only drawn attention to Singh's actions but has also ignited a contentious debate between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom regarding Singh’s immigration status and his ability to obtain a work permit and driver’s license in California.
The Trump administration claims that Singh, a native of India, was residing in the U.S. illegally. He now faces serious charges, including three counts of vehicular homicide and various immigration violations. According to Lieutenant Andrew Bolonka from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, Singh is currently being held in the St. Lucie County Jail, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placing a hold on him.
The tragic crash occurred approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of West Palm Beach, where Singh made an illegal U-turn on a highway. A minivan in the adjacent lane was unable to avoid a collision with Singh's truck trailer, resulting in the deaths of the minivan's driver and two passengers. Singh and a passenger in his truck thankfully escaped without injury. This accident has further fueled the ongoing immigration dispute between Florida state authorities and federal officials.
In a statement, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for Homeland Security, criticized the issuance of commercial licenses to individuals living in the country illegally, calling it "asinine." California, along with 18 other states and the District of Columbia, allows the issuance of driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status. Proponents argue that this policy enables individuals to work, access medical care, and travel safely.
Governor Newsom’s office responded on platform X, asserting that Singh had acquired a work permit during Donald Trump's presidency, a claim that McLaughlin has challenged. Furthermore, Florida authorities assert that Singh unlawfully entered the U.S. from Mexico in 2018. In light of the situation, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis dispatched Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins to California to ensure Singh's return to Florida.
In the aftermath of the accident, CBS News Miami visited a truck stop in Davie, Florida, where local truck drivers shared their thoughts on the incident and Singh's arrest. One truck operator, identified only as Sean, expressed empathy for Singh but also acknowledged the severity of his actions. "It sucks to be him," Sean remarked, while recognizing that the minivan driver’s decisions should also be scrutinized. "In the end, it’s his fault for making a U-turn," he said. "At the same time, those people should have hit the brakes—I mean, it’s a big ol' truck in the middle of the street."
The circumstances surrounding how Singh obtained his commercial driver's license are now under investigation by federal officials. As this case unfolds, it raises significant questions about immigration policy and the responsibilities of drivers on the road, highlighting the complex interplay between law enforcement and public safety.
