Truck driver in deadly Turnpike crash returns to court after Florida loses CDL lawsuit

Harjinder Singh , the truck driver accused in the Florida Turnpike crash that killed three people and sparked a national debate over commercial driver licensing, immigration status and trucking regulations, is due back in a St. Lucie County courtroom Wednesday afternoon. Singh is scheduled to appear at 3:30 p.m. The hearing comes one day after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Florida’s lawsuit against California and Washington over commercial driver licensing practices tied to the broader controversy surrounding the case. Investigators say Singh made an illegal U-turn through an “Official Use Only” crossover on Florida’s Turnpike near Fort Pierce in August 2025, leading to that deadly crash. Prosecutors charged Singh in connection with the deaths. He has pleaded not guilty. The case quickly grew beyond a fatal crash investigation. See also: Supreme Court rejects Florida's lawsuit over immigrant truck driver licenses Florida officials pointed to Singh’s commercial driver licensing history, saying he was originally issued a CDL in Washington before later receiving one in California. The crash led to questions over licensing procedures, English proficiency requirements and whether states were properly following federal standards for commercial drivers. The fallout eventually reached Washington, D.C., with St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro Jr. testifying before Congress about what he called gaps in the commercial driver licensing system. This week also brought another major development tied to the broader controversy. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Florida’s lawsuit against California and Washington over commercial driver licensing practices connected to the case, ending Florida’s attempt to take the dispute directly to the nation’s highest court. See also: Charges dismissed for woman without right hand cited for holding phone while driving The decision did not address whether Florida’s arguments were correct, only whether the case would move forward. But, Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Samuel Alito, dissented, arguing the court should have heard Florida’s case because disputes between states fall directly under the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction. Thomas wrote that Florida had “nowhere else to bring” its claims. Singh remains held without bond, according to previous court records. Earlier hearings in the case included requests from the defense for additional time as attorneys continued reviewing evidence and discovery materials.