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st. Lucy County, Fla. (WFLA) – A semi-truck driver involved in a fatal crash in St. Lucy County earlier this month is currently facing manslaughter charges.
Harjinder Singh, 28, was driving a semi-truck on the Florida Turnpike when he attempted an illegal U-turn and slammed a minivan into a trailer to kill three residents.
Singh, who said state officials were illegally in the country, returned to California after crash.
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The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Department issued an arrest warrant for a three-count vehicle murder last week. Recently appointed Gov. Jay Collins went to California and sent Singh back to Florida.
He is now under the control of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office said.
SLCSO said Singh appeared in the first court in the 19th Judicial Circuit on Saturday.
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In addition to three counts of vehicle murder, he was charged with three counts of manslaughter.
According to the online Sunshine, a conviction of manslaughter or vehicle murder in Florida can be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison for each count, depending on whether the charge was filed as a first-degree or second-degree felony.
At the hearing Saturday, Judge Lauren Sweet said that evidence that Singh had illegally entered the country, poses flight risk and therefore the bond was denied.