An Indian immigrant truck driver is facing serious accusations after a crash that resulted in the deaths of three people. The incident occurred when he allegedly made an illegal U-turn on a highway in Florida.
After the accident on April 12th, Harjinder Singh took an English proficiency test administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Bureau. He managed to correctly answer only two out of twelve questions. Furthermore, when asked to read and interpret highway signs, he could identify just one out of four.
Despite these significant shortcomings, Singh was issued commercial driver’s licenses in California and Washington, even though he is thought to have entered the U.S. illegally in 2018.
“This crash was a preventable tragedy that stemmed from a reckless decision and a critical oversight,” stated Transport Secretary Sean Duffy.
He went on to criticize current immigration policies, suggesting that they have led to a situation where unqualified foreign drivers are allowed to operate large vehicles, turning the trucking industry into a “lawless frontier.”
Singh is accused of causing the fatal accident through a misguided illegal U-turn using a highway cut-through designated for “official use only.” His large truck subsequently obstructed a four-lane highway.
The minivan involved had no chance to brake or evade, crashing into Singh’s trailer at full speed. Tragically, all three individuals in the minivan lost their lives. Footage from inside Singh’s vehicle revealed him seemingly unaffected by the tragedy occurring outside.
