Indian-origin truck driver Harjinder Singh, accused of killing 3 people in a Florida highway crash, has been brought back to face charges, Lt. Governor of Florida Jay Collins said on Friday. Collins shared a video of Singh where he was seen escorted by the authorities in handcuffs.
He thought he could run.@GovRonDeSantis and I brought him back to face justice. https://t.co/dGCeibNTIT
— Jay Collins (@JayCollinsFL) August 22, 2025
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday that the country is pausing the issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers. Rubio said the decision was made to safeguard road safety and protect American jobs from being displaced by foreign drivers.
In another post on X Collins wrote, “today, I personally escorted the thug who took the lives of three Floridians. Harjinder Singh should never have been in this country, and he never should have been granted a CDL by California.’
Today, I personally escorted the thug who took the lives of three Floridians. Harjinder Singh should never have been in this country, and he never should have been granted a CDL by California. Governor @GavinNewsom's reckless policies put communities at risk, and Florida won't… pic.twitter.com/KvbVGRLfcJ
— Jay Collins (@JayCollinsFL) August 21, 2025
How did the Florida turnpike crash occur?
According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Singh attempted an illegal U-turn on August 12 through a highway access point meant only for official use. His truck blocked all lanes, triggering a deadly wreck that claimed three lives. DHS lodged an arrest detainer against him following the crash.
In another post on X Collins wrote, “today, I personally escorted the thug who took the lives of three Floridians. Harjinder Singh should never have been in this country, and he never should have been granted a CDL by California.’
Incident sparked political criticism
The incident also sparked political criticism. On August 18, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughin rebuked California’s governor for issuing Singh a commercial driver’s license despite his undocumented status. “Secretary Noem and DHS are working around the clock to protect the public and get these criminal illegal aliens out of America,” McLaughin wrote on X.
The fallout from the crash has extended to federal transportation policy. The Hill reported that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed on Tuesday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has opened an investigation into the accident.
In May, the Department of Transportation announced it would strictly enforce the rule requiring commercial drivers to speak English, taking a tougher stance on such cases. The move came after an April executive order by US President Donald Trump that called for stricter checks on drivers.