Indian-origin truck driver facing homicide charges in U.S. denied bond

An Indian-origin truck driver accused of making an illegal U-turn that killed three people in Florida last week was denied bond Saturday (August 23, 2025).

The crash sparked a clash between U.S. Department of Homeland Security and California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom over Harjinder Singh obtaining a work permit and driver’s licence in the state. The Trump administration says Mr. Singh was in the U.S. illegally.

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Mr. 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.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said issuing a commercial licence 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.

Mr. Newsom’s press office responded on platform X that Mr. 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 Mr. Singh onto an airplane Thursday (August 28, 2025).

Mr. Singh made the illegal turn on the highway about 50 miles (80 kilometres) north of West Palm Beach, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A minivan in the neighbouring lane was unable to avoid the truck’s trailer and slammed into it, killing the minivan’s driver and two passengers.

Mr. Singh and a passenger in his truck were not injured.