Immigrant Trucker Fails Basic Test Before Florida Crash That Killed Three

Federal investigators say a truck driver who entered the U.S. illegally caused a devastating crash on the Florida Turnpike that killed three people — and stunningly, he failed basic English and road sign tests after the wreck.

Harjinder Singh, 28, crossed the southern border illegally in 2018 and later obtained a commercial driver’s license on the West Coast. Officials now confirm Singh couldn’t answer 10 of 12 basic English questions and misidentified three out of four highway signs during a post-crash assessment.

Authorities say Singh made an unauthorized U-turn on Aug. 12, jackknifing his truck into the path of a family’s minivan. All three occupants of the minivan were killed instantly. Singh fled to California but was arrested by U.S. Marshals on Aug. 16 in Stockton. He now faces three counts of vehicular homicide.

Homeland Security says Singh’s work authorization was denied under President Trump in September 2020 — but later approved under President Biden in June 2021 and reissued again in April 2025.

Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary, slammed California for issuing Singh a commercial license anyway.

“Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration,” McLaughlin said. “California granted him a license and Biden’s DHS gave him a permit. That’s how this happened.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office fired back, blaming Washington instead.

“California followed federal law, something the President knows nothing about,” a spokesperson said, pointing to Singh’s original entry date under Trump.

• In July 2023, Washington state issued Singh a full-term CDL — illegal for non-citizens.
• In July 2025, New Mexico police stopped Singh for speeding but failed to administer a mandatory English-proficiency test.
• One month later, three people are dead in Florida.

President Trump called the case “a catastrophic failure” and promised a nationwide audit of state licensing programs, vowing to strip licenses from drivers who lack English proficiency or proper immigration status.

“Under my administration, this will never happen again,” Trump said from the White House. “We’re going to shut down the loopholes that Joe Biden opened.”

Federal regulators are now investigating whether California, Washington, and New Mexico violated federal safety rules.

Singh remains in federal custody and could face additional charges if investigators uncover fraud tied to his licensing or work permits. Meanwhile, grieving families in Florida are demanding answers about how a driver who couldn’t read highway signs was ever allowed behind the wheel of a semi-truck.