Sikhs for Justice to give $100k in “compassion aid” for victims of illegal u-turn crash

A Sikh organization says they will donate $100,000 in “compassion aid” for the victims of the fatal u-turn crash involving a sikh truck driver. 

Lawyer and representative for Sikhs for Justice, Gurpatwant Dannun, stated in a press conference on Tuesday, August 26th that he “saw sorrow and suffering in his [Harjinder Singh] eyes, and he is praying… he is doing sikh prayer… He is facing mental anguish for what happened that day.”

Dannun also stated that Singh shared his experience in the moment following the fatal wreck, which included him holding the hand of one of the victims. 

“And I also observed – and he made this statement – as soon as that happened, he came out of his seat, went over to the van, broke open the window or the glass, and held the hand and said ‘help is on the way, please stay with me.’ that clearly states that he deeply feels grief and sorrow for the incident that has happened.”

“It is also important to note that Harjinder’s case is one of tragic misjudgement, and not of an intentional and malicious act… Harjinder did not set out to harm anybody in any way… and right now to portray him or treat him as a malicious killer, it would be very wrong at this time.”

Dannun also shared Harjinder’s explanation of his trip to Florida immediately following the crash.

“FHP left him at a gas station, and he stayed in a motel and the next morning his operator, the truck owner, sent two tickets for him to fly back to California. According to him, he was not given instructions to stay in Florida,” Dannun said. 

“He was allowed to proceed with his asylum application, which is pending, and that’s the procedure which immigration has provided in the past, that if you are a refugee and you have an application then you are authorized to go work. So in my understanding, he is authorized to work. He we define legally/illegally that is different, but illegally driving the truck? He is authorized to work and he has a driving license,” Dannun said of the driver’s legal status. 

Dannun also says that the $100,000 “compassion aid” will be delivered to the office of Governor DeSantis. 

“That is just a compassion to show that Sikh as a community is standing in solidarity with the victims – that is our main religious cause that we are always there for humanitarian relief, a humanitarian cause. We are known for this – Sikhs are known for this and we want to show our compassions. Just compassion aid which we are doing.”