Illegal alien truck driver presses for blood samples, vehicle analysis in deadly Florida disaster

An amerciable alien motortruck operator accused of causing a clang successful Florida that killed 3 radical appeared successful tribunal Thursday arsenic his attorneys pressed for caller investigating of grounds earlier trial.

Harjinder Singh, 28, of India, faces aggregate felony counts for allegedly causing a fiery semi-truck clang that killed 3 radical successful Fort Pierce, Florida, successful August.

Singh, who crossed into the United States illegally successful 2018 via the confederate border, has been charged with 3 counts of vehicular homicide and was extradited to Florida to look charges aft traveling to California successful the aftermath of the crash.

He appeared via video league from jailhouse for a docket telephone earlier Judge Lawrence Mirman successful St. Lucie Courthouse successful Florida connected Thursday astatine 10:30 a.m.

Harjinder Singh, a commercialized motortruck operator accused of making an amerciable U-turn that killed 3 radical connected Florida's Turnpike, appeared successful tribunal virtually connected Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (St. Lucie Courthouse, Florida)

BODYCAM VIDEO SHOWS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCK DRIVER SPEAKING LIMITED ENGLISH WITH NEW MEXICO OFFICER

Defense attorneys requested that Singh’s humor samples beryllium released for autarkic investigation and asked for entree to inspect the vehicles progressive earlier they are released from instrumentality enforcement custody. Prosecutors did not object, and some sides told the tribunal they expect those steps to beryllium completed earlier the extremity of the year.

The defence besides requested a continuance to let much clip to reappraisal find materials, which the justice granted. The adjacent assemblage docket telephone is present scheduled for Jan. 15, 2026, with the lawsuit continuing toward trial.

Harjinder Singh, 28, was arrested aft allegedly making an unauthorized U-turn successful Florida that resulted successful a clang that near 3 radical dead, officials said. (St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office)

Singh’s lawyer told the tribunal that his lawsuit is indigent but has received immoderate third-party assistance to money the defense. Mirman explained the process for requesting an indigency declaration "for cost" contempt Singh retaining backstage counsel. 

The defence asked that Singh beryllium allowed to look virtually for the adjacent docket call, though Mirman said different justice volition preside that time and volition find whether virtual appearances are permitted. Singh confirmed done an interpreter that helium understood the proceedings.

A mugshot provided by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office of Harjinder Singh, who was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail, Aug. 22, 2025. (St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office)

EXPERT REVEALS HOW ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER MAY HAVE GOTTEN COMMERCIAL LICENSE BEFORE FATAL FLORIDA CRASH

Fox News antecedently reported, citing a elder authoritative with the Florida Attorney General’s Office, that Singh failed his commercialized driver’s licence (CDL) trial 10 times successful 2 months earlier yet receiving a licence successful 2023 successful Washington state.

Investigators with the Florida AG’s bureau learned Singh failed his CDL cognition exam successful Washington authorities 10 times betwixt March 10, 2023, and May 5, 2023. They besides learned helium failed his aerial brakes cognition exam twice.

The Washington institution that trained Singh for his CDL attested that helium could talk English, adjacent though helium struggled to talk it proficiently, the elder authoritative said. Still, Washington issued Singh his archetypal CDL, and California aboriginal granted him another.

Bodycam inactive shows Harjinder Singh holding paperwork arsenic a New Mexico State Police serviceman issues him a speeding summons during a July 3 postulation stop. (New Mexico State Police bodycam)

Bodycam video released successful August shows Singh struggling with constricted English aft being pulled implicit for speeding successful New Mexico a period earlier, a item that has go a large focal constituent successful the case.

The footage shows Singh being stopped by a New Mexico State Police serviceman connected July 3 for allegedly driving 60 mph successful a 45 mph zone. Singh appeared apologetic arsenic helium received a ticket. He communicated intelligibly astatine first, but aft signing paperwork and preparing to leave, the serviceman struggled to recognize him.

Officials investigating the wreck successful Florida said Singh failed English and roadworthy motion tests. He's accused of jackknifing his 18-wheeler during an amerciable U-turn, causing a van to smash into the broadside of the semi, leaving 3 radical dead.

WATCH: Florida AG slams California implicit alleged amerciable migrant trucker licenses aft deadly crash

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Oct. 15 that galore large rig drivers neglect to conscionable English connection requirements, a occupation his section is present targeting.

"I enactment states connected announcement this summer: Enforce the Trump Administration’s English connection requirements oregon the checks halt coming," Duffy said. "California is the lone authorities successful the federation that refuses to guarantee large rig drivers tin work our roadworthy signs and pass with instrumentality enforcement. This is simply a cardinal information contented that impacts you and your household connected America’s road."

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The announcement followed the Trump administration’s determination to withhold much than $40 cardinal successful national road information funds from California for failing to enforce national English proficiency standards for truckers.

Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.