A truck driver accused of making an illegal U-turn that killed three people in Florida last week was denied bond Saturday.
The crash sparked a clash between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom over Harjinder Singh, a native of India, obtaining a work permit and driver’s license in the state. The Trump administration says Singh was in the U.S. illegally.
Singh was charged with three state counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations, and he was denied bond on all charges. He is being held in the St. Lucie County Jail, Lt. Andrew Bolonka from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has put a hold on him.
Fatal crash fuels immigration fight between Florida, federal authorities and Newsom
Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said issuing a commercial license to someone in the country illegally is “asinine.” California is one of 19 states, in addition to the District of Columbia, that issue licenses regardless of immigration status. Supporters say that lets people work, visit doctors and travel safely.
Newsom’s press office responded on platform X that Singh obtained a work permit while Donald Trump was president, which McLaughlin disputed.
Florida authorities said Singh entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis dispatched Lt. Gov. Jay Collins to California to escort Singh onto an airplane Thursday.
Truck drivers react to the crash and arrest
Singh made the illegal turn on the highway about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of West Palm Beach, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A minivan in the neighboring lane was unable to avoid the truck’s trailer and slammed into it, killing the minivan’s driver and two passengers.
Singh and a passenger in his truck were not injured.
CBS News Miami went to a truck stop in Davie, Florida, where truckers had their own opinions about last week’s crash and Singh’s arrest.
“It sucks to be him,” said Sean, who has been a truck operator for over five years.
Sean, who declined to reveal his last name, told CBS News Miami that he believes the actions of the minivan’s driver should be noticed; however, he doesn’t question Singh’s reckless driving.
“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.”
At this time, the circumstances of how Singh obtained a commercial driver’s license are under investigation by federal officials.
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