ST. LUCIE COUNTY – A continuance by a St. Lucie County judge was granted on July 23 in the vehicular homicide case of Harjinder Singh, 29, who faces charges in a fatal crash on Florida’s Turnpike in which three people were killed.
On Aug. 12, 2025, Singh attempted to make an illegal U-turn into an “official only” space, blocking northbound lanes, when a minivan carrying three passengers collided into the side of the semi-truck’s trailer and became wedged beneath it, causing the death of the 30-year-old man who was the driver; a 37-year-old woman; and a 54-year-old man. The trio were from Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Days later, Singh was arrested in California and brought back to Florida by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins where he faces three state counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations. He has been denied bail on all charges and faces up to 45 years in prison.
Attorneys for Singh, who reportedly was not in court on July 23, told the judge that they needed more time to review forensic evidence in the case.
Singh legally obtained his Commercial Drivers License in California as its laws allow for issuance of licenses regardless of immigration status, but investigators with the U.S. Department of Transportation gave Singh an English Language performance test where he failed in large part to understand the majority of phrases given to him. Also in a road proficiency test, Singh reportedly failed to identify the majority of road signs.
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated on X.com that the Trump administration confirmed that Singh met federal and state immigration requirements thereby being issued a work permit to legally be in the county.
Singh entered the country from Mexico in 2018 as an asylum seeker.
The case was rescheduled by Judge Michael Heisey for Oct. 1 at 9 a.m., in the St. Lucie County Courthouse.