Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant truck driver, is accused of causing a fatal crash in Florida that killed three people after repeatedly failing his commercial driver’s license (CDL) exams. A senior official with the Florida Attorney General’s Office reported that Singh, who crossed the southern border illegally in 2018, was issued his CDL by Washington state and later California despite failing his tests 10 times in two months. The CDL knowledge exams were reportedly taken between March 10, 2023, and May 5, 2023, with Singh also failing the air brakes knowledge test twice. The Washington company that trained Singh for his CDL attested that he could speak English, albeit with limited proficiency. Nevertheless, Washington and California issued Singh his licenses, raising questions about the states’ adherence to federal safety and immigration requirements.
Bodycam footage released in August reveals Singh’s limited English skills after he was pulled over for speeding in New Mexico a month earlier. The video shows Singh struggling to communicate with a state police officer during the stop, despite initially appearing apologetic. The incident has become a focal point of the investigation, highlighting concerns about the safety of drivers who may not meet necessary language proficiency standards. Officials from the Florida AG’s office have emphasized that Singh failed both English and road sign tests. They accuse him of jackknifing his 18-wheeler during an illegal U-turn, resulting in a van colliding with the truck and causing three fatalities. The crash has prompted a legal action by the Florida AG’s office, which has sued both California and Washington for failing to comply with federal regulations regarding CDL issuance for illegal immigrants. The lawsuit argues that the states may be contributing to public safety risks by granting licenses to drivers who do not meet federal safety and immigration standards.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently addressed the issue, stating that many big rig drivers fail to meet English language requirements, a problem the department is now targeting. Duffy emphasized the importance of enforcing the Trump administration’s English proficiency rules for truckers, warning that states should ensure drivers can read road signs and communicate with law enforcement. The announcement followed the Trump administration’s decision to withhold over $40 million in federal highway safety funds from California, accusing it of failing to enforce these federal standards. This development has intensified the debate over immigration policy and public safety, with critics arguing that the case underscores the need for stricter controls on the issuance of commercial licenses to immigrants who do not meet federal requirements.