Video: 'Illegal immigrant', say Trump officials after Indian man's wrong U-turn kills 3 in US

A tragic accident on Florida’s Turnpike on Saturday claimed lives of three people after a semi-truck made an illegal U-turn, causing a devastating collision with a passenger van.

The crash occurred near mile marker 170 in St. Lucie County when a semi-truck and trailer jackknifed across the northbound lanes.

The truck had attempted a U-turn at a section of the highway marked for "Official Use Only," according to reports from TCPalm News and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

The semi-truck was towing a box trailer and travelling in the outer northbound lane when it crossed all travel lanes to access the restricted median turn.

A black 2015 Chrysler Town & Country minivan, travelling in the inside lane, was unable to avoid the trailer and crashed into it.

Emergency crews from St Lucie Fire Rescue responded quickly, but all three occupants of the minivan were pronounced dead at the spot.

The victims were identified as a 30-year-old man from Florida City, a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach, and a 54-year-old man from Miami.

Authorities have not released the name of the semi-truck driver, described in reports as a Sikh man of Indian origin.

While no charges have yet been filed, however, officials say the driver would face legal action.

In the aftermath of the crash, the driver has faced a wave of online racist abuse.

Viral videos of the scene sparked xenophobic commentary, with some political voices falsely calling the driver as an “illegal immigrant” and blaming the state of California for issuing his commercial driver’s license.