Authorities have identified the three South Florida residents killed in the August 12 crash on Florida’s Turnpike as 30-year-old Herby Dufresne of Florida City, 54-year-old Rodrigue Dor of Miami, and 37-year-old Faniloa Joseph of Pompano Beach.
The victims were passengers in a Chrysler minivan driven by Dufresne when it collided with a tractor-trailer operated by an undocumented immigrant, 28-year-old Harjinger Singh. According to arrest affidavits, Singh allegedly attempted an illegal U-turn in a section of the Turnpike designated for “official use only,” causing the minivan to crash into the trailer and become lodged underneath. Both passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, while Dufresne was airlifted to a local hospital, where he later died. Singh and his passenger were uninjured.
Investigators said Singh’s passenger had been watching videos on his phone and was unsure why the driver was attempting the U-turn. The truck driver declined to answer questions without an attorney. Singh was arrested in California on three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of manslaughter after a warrant was issued on August 15. Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins personally oversaw Singh’s transfer to Florida, where a judge ordered him held without bond.
Authorities confirmed Singh has been living in the U.S. illegally since crossing from Mexico in 2018. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Singh obtained commercial driver’s licenses from Washington in 2023 and California in 2024 despite only answering 2 of 12 verbal questions on an English proficiency test and identifying just one of four traffic signs.
In response to the crash, Florida officials announced new measures to bolster commercial vehicle inspections. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said officers will be stationed at the state’s 23 agricultural inspection stations to stop anyone in the country illegally who may be operating large trucks with out-of-state licenses. Additional pull-over lanes are being added along the northern border, and X-ray machines will be installed over the coming months to screen trucks at key checkpoints.
“These steps are aimed at enhancing public safety and preventing future tragedies,” Simpson said. Uthmeier added that the measures are intended to prevent individuals living in the U.S. illegally from operating commercial vehicles without proper oversight.
The California-based trucking company Singh worked for confirmed he had flown back to California the day after the crash. Singh’s passenger told investigators that he had been following GPS directions to exit and return south toward Miami and that Singh did not appear fatigued during the drive.
The crash has prompted Florida officials to announce broader enforcement along the state’s borders and highways, focusing on illegal operators of commercial trucks. The new policies, officials said, are part of a comprehensive effort to prevent similar incidents in the future while enhancing public safety across the state.
