Harjinder Singh Truck Driver Punishment

August 12, 2025 – Indian truck driver Harjinder Singh, 28, from Punjab, allegedly made an illegal U-turn at an entry point designated for “official use only” on the Florida Turnpike near Fort Pierce. His semi-trailer blocked all northbound lanes, giving a minivan no chance to avoid a collision. Three people in the minivan – two passengers and the driver – were killed.

Harjinder Singh was arrested by US marshals in Stockton, California, on August 16, 2025. Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins personally escorted him back to Florida, where a judge denied his bail, citing his serious risk of flight.

1.Legal and immigration consequences

According to Florida law, causing a person’s death can result in up to 15 years in prison. Harjinder Singh was sentenced to 45 years in prison for a vehicle accident that killed three people and was charged with three counts of murder and reckless manslaughter. Florida law considers these charges to be serious use of force crimes, which can carry up to 45 years in prison.

After the incident,
he was found to have failed an English proficiency and road sign recognition test—he answered only 2 of the 12 English questions correctly and recognized 1 of the 4 road signs—raising serious concerns about licensing standards.

2.Political and public reaction

Harjinder Singh himself has stated that he does not know good English because when he was asking questions related to his license, it was found that Singh did not know English. The accident has shaken everyone and led to a political conflict between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis—who criticized Harjinder Singh’s license and claimed that he lacked English—and California Governor Gavin Newsom—who defended his state’s compliance with federal law and denied claims that Singh was given work authorization under Trump.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio halted the issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers, citing safety concerns for foreign drivers.

3. Public sympathy and advocacy efforts

A petition started on Change.org by the “Collective Punjabi Youth” is spreading rapidly—with more than 2.5 million supports. The petition calls the crash a tragic accident and urges leniency, parole eligibility, or alternative sentencing measures.

As more and more people join the petition and support Madat Singh, Harjinder’s sentence may be reduced.
The petition emphasizes that Singh has no criminal history, claims he was cooperating, and calls the potential sentence of 45 years “too harsh.”

In India, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) passed a resolution urging the US to adopt a humanitarian approach to the case. They demanded consular access and legal aid, support for the Indian diaspora, and criticised discriminatory treatment of truck drivers. The SAD also expressed concern over Singh appearing in court without a turban—a matter of religious sentiment.

Media reports from the village in Punjab say Singh’s family is in shock and awaits his first hearing on August 27, 2025, hoping for a fair trial. They have dismissed media exaggerations about his possible sentence and emphasised his clean background and intention to seek