New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- The US Department of Homeland Security said on Monday that the Indian origin truck driver accused of making an illegal U-turn that killed three people in Florida has been living in the country illegally.

The announcement led to a verbal tussle with California Governor Gavin Newsom's office over immigration.

The truck driver involved, Harjinder Singh, made the illegal turn last Tuesday from northbound lanes of Florida's Turnpike, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A minivan could not avoid the truck's trailer as it was blocking the northbound lanes, causing the fatal crash, AP reported.

Two passengers in the minivan died at the scene, and the driver died at a hospital. Singh and another passenger in his truc...