Harjinder Singh, an illegal Indian truck driver accused of causing a Florida Turnpike crash that killed three people from South Florida signed extradition papers Tuesday during his first court appearance in California.
Singh, 28, appeared in San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton on a fugitive warrant stemming from three counts of vehicular homicide filed in St. Lucie County, Florida, Miami Herald reported.
Authorities say Singh attempted an illegal U-turn in his semi-truck on Aug. 12 near Fort Pierce, blocking northbound lanes and leaving a Chrysler minivan with no time to stop.
The collision killed a 37-year-old Pompano Beach woman, a 54-year-old Miami man and a 30-year-old Florida City man, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. They were traveling together in the minivan, which was crushed beneath the trailer.
READ: 8 Indian Americans arrested in for gang-related kidnapping and torture
Dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit Tuesday, Singh stood before Judge John Soldati and was assisted by an interpreter.
The hearing unfolded under heavy security, with nine sheriff’s deputies stationed throughout the courtroom — some standing beside Singh and others seated in the gallery. Singh spoke little, primarily responding “yes” to the judge’s questions.
Soldati scheduled a review hearing for Aug. 27. Florida has 30 days to collect Singh under the warrant. If he is not transferred by then, he must return to Stockton court for further proceedings. Until then, he remains in custody without bail, also subject to a federal immigration detainer.
Dashcam footage from Singh’s truck captured the illegal U-turn and the impact, images that have since circulated widely online.
READ: Five Indian Americans charged with human trafficking in Nebraska
Singh and his passenger, Harneet Singh, 25, flew to Sacramento on Aug. 13, the day after the crash, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a press release. An arrest warrant for Harjinder was issued on Friday. He was arrested in Stockton without incident on Saturday.
The case has drawn national attention, becoming a flashpoint in immigration and licensing debates. The Department of Homeland Security blasted California’s policy of issuing commercial driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, calling it “asinine.”
California officials countered that Singh obtained his license legally after receiving a federal work permit in 2021.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also has seized on the case, criticizing Singh’s demeanor after the crash as “really cold” and urging Congress to cut funding to sanctuary states.
If convicted in Florida, Singh faces up to 45 years in prison — 15 years for each vehicular homicide count.