Florida crash: Brother of Punjabi truck driver arrested in Florida accident faces deportation

PTC Web Desk:  A tragic road accident in Florida has led to the arrest of a Punjabi truck driver and his brother, both of whom were residing illegally in the United States.

On August 12, Harjinder Singh, a truck driver from Punjab, attempted an illegal U-turn at an “official use only” access point on a highway in St. Lucie County, Florida. His tractor-trailer blocked all lanes of the road, resulting in a devastating collision with a mini car. Three persons were killed instantly in the crash.

At the time of the accident, Harjinder’s 25-year-old brother, Harneet Singh, was inside the truck. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has now arrested Harneet Singh, who had also been living in the country without legal status. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Harneet was apprehended by Border Patrol in 2023 but was released into local communities under the Biden administration. He is currently being held in detention until deportation proceedings are completed.

The authorities said Harjinder Singh fled to California after the fatal crash but was later brought back to Florida. Florida’s Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins confirmed on social media that Harjinder had been arrested despite attempting to escape. Investigations also revealed that he had failed his driving license test and was illegally operating the truck.

So far, officials have not disclosed the district in Punjab to which the two accused belong.