A trucker who entered the United States illegally is being held responsible for a deadly crash in Florida that killed three people. The driver, 28‑year‑old Harjinder Singh, is accused of making an illegal U‑turn that forced an 18‑wheel semi into a van, leaving three people dead in the town of Fort Pierce.
A hard‑to‑pass license journey
Investigators with the Florida Attorney General’s Office say Singh tried to pass a commercial driver’s license (CDL) test in Washington state 10 times in just two months, from March 10 to May 5, 2023. He also failed the air‑brakes part of the exam twice.
The school that trained him told officials that he could speak English, though he struggled to use it well. Washington eventually issued him a CDL, and California later gave him another. The records show the driver failed English‑proficiency and road‑sign tests on several occasions.
Body‑cam evidence shows limited English
Body‑camera footage released in August shows Singh being pulled over in New Mexico for speeding. He spoke in broken English, apologized to the officer, signed paperwork, and then the officer had difficulty understanding him. The clip highlights the language barrier that officials say could have contributed to the Florida crash.
Lawsuit against state licensing
The Florida attorney general has sued California and Washington in a federal court filing. The suit asks the Supreme Court to stop those states from issuing CDLs to people who have not proven lawful immigration status or met federal safety and language requirements. Washington and California are blamed for letting Singh, who claims to have entered illegally in 2018, obtain his commercial license.
Federal safety crackdown
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in October that many big‑rig drivers do not meet the federal English‑language requirement. He warned states, especially California, that the U.S. Department of Transportation would cut off safety funding if they do not enforce “the language standards that keep our roads safe.”
The case raises questions about how well the U.S. checks commercial drivers’ eligibility and language skills, especially when dangerous crashes claim lives on highways. It also illustrates growing tension between federal safety rules and state licensing authorities.
Source: Fox News
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