Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant, faces vehicular homicide charges after a fatal crash on the Florida Turnpike that killed three people. A petition demanding leniency for Singh has collected nearly 2.5 million signatures, urging Florida officials to re-examine the case. The petition, which is addressed to Governor Ron DeSantis, calls for clemency and a reassessment of the charges against Singh. The incident occurred on Aug. 12, when Singh allegedly attempted an unauthorized U-turn on the turnpike, leading to a collision between his trailer and a minivan. Three passengers were killed in the crash, and Singh was arrested in Stockton, California, and later extradited to Florida.
A Florida judge denied bond for Singh, citing his unauthorized status and the risk of flight. St. Lucie County Judge Lauren Sweet determined probable cause for all six charges, classifying them as forcible felonies under Florida law. The petition, signed by ‘Collective Punjabi youth,’ argues that the severity of the charges does not align with the circumstances of the incident. It requests that Singh receive a ‘proportionate and reasonable’ sentence, allowing for parole eligibility after serving part of his sentence and considering alternatives to incarceration such as counseling or community service.
Authorities stated that Singh crossed into the U.S. illegally in 2018 and later obtained a commercial driver’s license in California. His attempt to get work authorization was rejected by the Trump administration in September 2020. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced the halt of work visas for foreign commercial truck drivers, a policy that has been praised by conservatives in the wake of the crash. Governor Ron DeSantis has not responded to media inquiries about the case. The petition’s call for clemency reflects a broader debate on immigration enforcement and the legal consequences of such incidents.