Terrifying footage has emerged of the moment an illegal migrant driving a huge semi-truck caused a tragic crash which left three people dead.

Harjinder Singh - who obtained a commercial driver's license in California - was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide for the horrific crash in Florida last Tuesday.

Video from inside his enormous semi-truck shows the moment he casually began performing a U-turn on a highway, failing to consider other cars on the road traveling at speed.

As he took up the entire highway, a minivan crashed directly into the side of the truck, unable to break quick enough to prevent the tragedy.

Two passengers were killed on impact, while the driver was rushed to hospital and later declared dead.

The area in which Singh was attempting to perform the U-turn was an 'official use only' pass.

Singh is understood to have arrived in the United States illegally in 2018 after crossing the Mexican border.

'Three people lost their lives as a result of his recklessness, and countless friends and family members will experience the pain of their loss forever,' Dave Kerner from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said.

'The actions taken by the Defendant while operating a commercial tractor-trailer are both shocking and criminal.

'Harjinder Singh is in custody on state vehicular homicide charges and immigration violations.

'He will no longer be able to damage and destroy the lives of Floridians and visitors.'

In the video, Singh remained calm as it became apparent the minivan had been completely demolished, with debris strewn across the highway.

He peered out the driver's side window immediately after the impact, before wordlessly putting the truck in park and turning off his engine.

Moments later, Singh was caught on camera watching on as emergency services crews worked to free the mangled car from underneath the truck.

He stood with his arms slack by his side just a few steps away from rescue crews, peering at the camera as it panned to catch the devastation of the crash.

Singh is currently being held on an ICE detainer.

If convicted, he is likely to serve his sentence in Florida and then face immediate deportation.

Each vehicular homicide charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years behind bars.