A truck driver, who is suspected to be in the country illegally, is facing serious charges after his actions led to a crash that resulted in three fatalities in Florida. This driver, Harjinder Singh, apparently failed his commercial driver’s license (CDL) test ten times within a two-month span prior to finally securing his license in Washington state in 2023, as reported by a senior official from the Florida attorney general’s office.
Singh allegedly crossed the southern border illegally back in 2018 and is being linked to a crash that occurred in Fort Pierce, Florida, in August. Investigators found that Singh struggled with the CDL knowledge exam in Washington, failing it ten times between March and May of 2023, and he also did not pass the air brake knowledge test on two occasions.
Interestingly, the company that trained him for the CDL noted he could communicate in English, albeit with considerable difficulty. Nevertheless, Washington approved his license, and California subsequently did the same.
In a notable incident recorded by body camera footage in August, Singh was pulled over by state police in New Mexico for exceeding the speed limit. The footage revealed his limited proficiency in English, highlighting the concern surrounding his ability to operate a commercial vehicle. He was initially clear while speaking but struggled to articulate his thoughts afterward.
Authorities looking into the crash revealed that Singh could not pass an English and road sign test, which raises safety questions. He is accused of making an illegal U-turn while driving a large truck, causing a jackknife incident that tragically claimed three lives.
In light of the situation, Florida’s office has filed a petition with the Supreme Court aimed at blocking both California and Washington from granting CDLs to individuals who are not legally in the country. The lawsuit argues that these states are not adhering to federal immigration and safety standards.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has commented on broader issues related to English language requirements for truck drivers, stressing that many do not meet these standards. He indicated that enforcement of these requirements is critical for the safety of everyone on the roads, stating that California is the only state refusing to ensure that drivers can understand road signs and communicate effectively with law enforcement.
Additionally, this announcement follows actions by the Trump administration to withhold significant federal highway safety funding from California for non-compliance with federal English proficiency regulations for commercial drivers.
