Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, a Republican, said Monday that there would be “absolutely no leniency” for an illegal immigrant accused of killing three people in a semitruck crash on the Florida Turnpike despite a petition signed by more than 2.8 million people pushing for mercy.
Harjinder Singh, 28, was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and is facing up to 45 years in prison after allegedly attempting an illegal U-turn in a semitruck on Aug. 12. Singh, who authorities said entered the United States illegally in 2018, was later arrested in California and extradited back to Florida.
In the weeks since his arrest, a Change.org petition titled “Justice for Harjinder Singh” has drawn more than 2.8 million signatures. Signers argue that the crash was a tragic accident rather than a deliberate act, and are urging Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to commute Singh’s sentence if he is convicted.
“This was a tragic accident — not a deliberate act. While accountability matters, the severity of the charges against him does not align with the circumstances of the incident,” the petition says.
The petition’s creator, Manisha Kaushal, signed it on behalf of “Collective Punjabi youth,” and much of the support has come from Indian nationals or diaspora communities abroad. Commenters from Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom described Singh as a hardworking young man supporting his family.
“45 yrs of imprisonment?? Is it fair for a young boy who left his home country to have bright future, support family???” wrote one supporter from Mississauga, Ontario.
Collins dismissed the idea of leniency outright during an appearance on Fox News’s America’s Newsroom with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer.
“Absolutely not,” Collins said. “He illegally entered in 2018, put people’s lives at risk, and doesn’t understand the language or the signs. We think because of his ethnicity, he is supposed to not have accountability? That’s not how this works. It is ridiculous.”
“Of course, he fled back to California. We know Newsom doesn’t care about this or doesn’t take it seriously,” Collins added.
Federal officials said Singh’s lack of qualifications extended beyond Florida. According to the Department of Transportation, Singh badly flunked English and road sign tests.
When tested for English proficiency by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Singh answered just two out of 12 questions correctly, and he only identified one out of four highway signs correctly.
Despite these failures, Singh was granted a commercial driver’s license in California and Washington, both sanctuary states, raising questions about oversight and enforcement of federal licensing standards.
The crash occurred when Singh’s semitruck U-turned and blocked all four lanes. A minivan hit the truck, killing all three passengers instantly. Video footage from Singh’s cab reportedly showed him sitting motionless as the chaos unfolded outside.
Collins stressed that while millions of people may rally for Singh, the three Floridians killed in the crash have not seen petitions on their behalf.
“It is about those three lives,” he told Perino. “He will pay the price, do his time, and go back to where he came from.”
A counter petition titled “Deport Supporters of Harjinder Singh’s Commutation” has also gained momentum, collecting more than 29,000 signatures. Launched by a self-described truck driver and “heritage American,” the counter petition denounces efforts to seek leniency for Singh.
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“When Harjinder Singh, the Indian truck driver, attempted an illegal U-turn on the interstate, it resulted in a tragic accident that took the lives of three innocent people. Yet, over 500,000 individuals have signed a petition to commute his sentence, showing disregard for justice and the value of these lives,” the counter petition says.
It continues, “These signatories not only undermine the legal system but also pose a potential threat to public safety by advocating leniency for someone whose actions led to irreversible consequences. It’s crucial that our country sends a clear message: We will not tolerate such recklessness, nor will we shelter those who support it.”