FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — The deadly crash on Florida’s Turnpike that killed three people is now fueling a national immigration and licensing firestorm.

The case has drawn the attention of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who says Florida will personally take custody of the truck driver accused of causing the wreck.

On Wednesday, DeSantis announced in Lake Worth that Lt. Gov. Jay Collins will fly to California on Thursday to bring 28-year-old Harjinder Singh back to Florida.

“We are not going to wait around. The lieutenant governor is going to California tomorrow to bring him back here so we can throw the book at him,” DeSantis said.

The crash

Troopers say Singh attempted an illegal U-turn on the Turnpike near Fort Pierce on August 12, blocking all northbound lanes with his semi-truck.

A Chrysler minivan slammed into the trailer, killing three people inside: a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach, a 54-year-old man from Miami, and a 30-year-old man from Florida City.

Singh and his passenger, 25-year-old Harneet Singh, were reportedly not injured.

The very next day, before any warrant had been issued, both men boarded a flight to Sacramento, California.

On August 15, Florida authorities secured a warrant charging Harjinder Singh with three counts of vehicular homicide.

He was arrested in Stockton on August 16 by U.S. Marshals.

Court appearance and extradition

This week, Singh appeared in San Joaquin County Superior Court in California, dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit and speaking through an interpreter.

A judge read the fugitive warrant for three counts of vehicular homicide.

Singh then signed extradition papers, which the judge also approved, starting a 30-day clock for Florida to bring him back. If he is not picked up by then, Singh must return to court in California on August 27.

He remains in custody without bail and is also under a federal immigration detainer.

If convicted in Florida, he faces up to 45 years in prison — 15 years for each count of vehicular homicide.

Immigration status and licensing controversy

Federal officials say Singh crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in 2018 and claimed asylum.

His first application for work authorization was denied in 2020 under the Trump administration, but he later received a temporary work permit.

With that, California issued him a limited-term commercial driver’s license in 2021.

In 2023, Washington state granted him a full-term CDL — a license that federal regulators now say should not have been issued, given his immigration status.

After the crash, investigators with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration tested Singh’s English proficiency and road-sign skills. He failed badly, answering just 2 of 12 verbal questions correctly and identifying 1 of 4 traffic signs.

The Department of Transportation and other federal agencies are now investigating how Singh managed to secure commercial licenses in multiple states despite failing to meet federal safety standards.

Political fallout

Governor DeSantis has described case as proof of broader immigration failures, blasting Singh’s demeanor after the crash and calling him “cold.”

“It was almost like, you know, he’s walking down the sidewalk, maybe stubbed his toe it didn’t register to him, you know, what had happened,” DeSantis said earlier this week. “That should have never happened. He should have never been here. He certainly shouldn’t have gotten a commercial driver’s license from California.”

The governor also blamed Congress for what he described as “abuse of the asylum process” and sanctuary state loopholes that allowed Singh to remain in the country.

See also: Attempted murder investigation turns into deputy-involved shooting in Lake Worth Beach

Fallout for trucking company

The trucking company Singh was driving for, White Hawk Carriers, is also facing scrutiny. Federal records show the company has racked up multiple inspection violations and, as of this week, has been stripped of insurance coverage outside California.

What’s next

With extradition paperwork signed, Florida has until mid-September to transport Singh back to St. Lucie County to face charges.

State officials now say that process could begin as soon as this week, with the lieutenant governor personally escorting him back.

The case is expected to remain at the forefront of the immigration debate in Florida and beyond as federal officials investigate how Singh was licensed and allowed to continue driving despite repeated red flags.