Over 1.6 million sign petition for Indian truck driver arrested in Florida crash that killed three

A deadly crash on Florida’s Turnpike in St. Lucie County has triggered a massive public outcry, with more than 1.6 million people signing a petition in support of Harjinder Singh, an Indian-origin truck driver arrested after the accident.

The incident took place on August 12, when a mini-van collided with a commercial semi-truck and trailer driven by Singh. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), their initial probe suggests Singh allegedly attempted a U-turn at an unauthorized spot, leading to the collision that claimed the lives of three people traveling in the van.

Following the crash, state troopers secured a criminal arrest warrant against Singh on three counts of vehicular homicide.

Investigators also stated that Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 via the Mexico border and later acquired a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in California. With assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), authorities have placed an immigration detainer on him under the 287(g) federal program.

“Three lives were lost because of his recklessness,” said Dave Kerner, Executive Director of the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. “Harjinder Singh is now in custody and will face state charges. Once those are resolved, he will be deported.”

The case, however, has sparked a heated debate in the U.S. and India, with critics arguing that Singh is being unfairly targeted because of his immigration status. A Change.org petition demanding his release has now crossed 1.6 million signatures, intensifying discussions around road safety, migrant drivers, and immigration enforcement.

Singh remains in custody as legal proceedings continue.