NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Fort Pierce, FL, August 17, 2025: A tragic crash on the Florida Turnpike has left three people dead after a semi-truck attempted an illegal U-turn at an “Official Use Only” crossover, cutting across lanes of traffic.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident occurred on August 12 near mile marker 170, when the truck crossed in front of a Chrysler Town & Country minivan traveling northbound in the left lane. The 30-year-old driver of the minivan from Florida City was unable to avoid the truck, and the van became wedged beneath the trailer. He later died at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital. His two passengers, a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach and a 54-year-old man from Miami, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The truck driver, identified as 29-year-old Harjinder Singh of California, and his passenger were not injured. Singh has been charged with three counts of vehicular homicide.
Authorities also revealed that Singh entered the United States illegally in 2018 after crossing the southern border and somehow obtained a commercial driver’s license in California. He is now being held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer, which could result in deportation after state-level charges are resolved.
Dave Kerner, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, called Singh’s maneuver “recklessness that cost innocent lives,” and said both criminal accountability and immigration enforcement will move forward.
The crash, which was captured on a dashcam video, has gone viral online, triggering widespread outrage. Many social media users expressed shock at the truck driver’s actions and called for stricter oversight of commercial driver licensing. But the tragedy has also given rise to xenophobic commentary. Posts stereotyping Indian driving habits and attacking immigrants in general quickly surfaced, sparking criticism from community leaders who warned against scapegoating entire communities for the actions of one individual.
Safety advocates say the case underscores not only the dangers of illegal U-turns on high-speed highways but also the need to ensure that commercial drivers meet the highest training and regulatory standards.
Cover photo courtesy: @unlimited_ls/X.
UPDATE: https://t.co/8HVbByCsqY
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) August 15, 2025
