Harjinder Singh, an Indian immigrant and asylum seeker, is facing vehicular homicide charges after a deadly crash on the Florida Turnpike near Fort Pierce on August 12. Singh, driving a semi-trailer, made an illegal U-turn across two lanes of traffic, violating a posted no U-turn sign. A minivan traveling behind had no time to stop and slammed into the trailer’s side, getting dragged underneath the White Hawk Carriers truck. Three people were killed in the crash.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) launched an investigation into the incident, focusing not only on the circumstances of the crash but also Singh’s qualifications to drive a commercial vehicle in the U.S.
Driver Failed Basic English and Road Sign Test
According to preliminary findings, Singh spoke poor English and lacked the ability to read and understand road signs—key skills required for operating a commercial vehicle safely. FMCSA investigators administered an English Language Proficiency assessment as part of their inquiry. Singh answered only two of 12 verbal questions correctly and was able to identify just one of four highway traffic signs.
Singh was issued a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) by the state of Washington on July 15, 2023, despite Washington state laws requiring CDL applicants to be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Singh, who is not a permanent resident and is still awaiting a decision on his asylum application, appeared to have been granted the license through unclear or possibly improper channels.
Confusion Over Legal Status and CDL Issuance
Singh was previously denied a work permit in September 2020, but later granted one in June 2021, according to the Department of Homeland Security. While some states do allow asylum seekers with valid work permits and Social Security numbers to obtain a CDL, Washington is not one of them.
Further complicating the matter, Singh was also issued a non-domiciled CDL in California on July 23, 2024. California is among the few states that permit asylum seekers to obtain commercial licenses before their immigration status is finalized. The FMCSA is now investigating whether all proper procedures were followed in both Washington and California.
“The federal government confirmed Mr Singh’s legal presence in the US,” the California Department of Motor Vehicles said in a statement.
“Mr Singh’s commercial driver’s license is a federal REAL ID, which he was entitled to receive given the federal government’s confirmation of his legal status.”
White Hawk Carriers, the company Singh was working for at the time of the crash, has not yet issued a public statement. The FMCSA continues to examine whether regulatory failures may have played a role in allowing Singh behind the wheel of a semi-truck, despite clear deficiencies in language and road safety comprehension.