Related coverage: Lt. Gov. Jay Collins takes semi-truck driver accused of killing 3 in Turnpike crash back to Florida
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The semi truck driver involved in a deadly crash in St. Lucie County earlier this month is now facing more charges of manslaughter.
Harjinder Singh, 28, was operating a semi truck on the Florida Turnpike when he made an illegal U-turn, resulting in a crash with a minivan that killed all three of its passengers.
Singh, who state officials said is in the country illegally, went back to California after the crash.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued a warrant for Singh’s arrest last week for three counts of vehicular homicide. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins then traveled to California to return Singh to Florida.
He is now in the custody of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and is being held on an ICE detainer, the sheriff’s office said.
Singh had his first court appearance on Saturday in the 19th Judicial Circuit, SLCSO said.
In addition to the three charges of vehicular homicide, he was charged with three counts of manslaughter.
In Florida, a conviction for manslaughter or vehicular homicide can result in a sentence of up to 30 years in prison per count, based on whether the charges are classified as first or second-degree felonies, reports Online Sunshine.
At Saturday’s hearing, Judge Lauren Sweet determined that Singh is a flight risk due to evidence of his illegal entry into the country, leading to the denial of bond.
