Illegal Immigrant Behind Deadly Florida Semi Crash Failed English-Proficiency Tests, DeSantis Demands Extradition

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced Wednesday that state authorities will take custody of Harjinder Singh, the illegal immigrant responsible for a deadly truck crash in St. Lucie County last week that claimed three lives. 

Singh failed federally required English proficiency tests, answering only two of twelve verbal questions correctly and identifying just one of four highway traffic signs, yet was still able to obtain commercial driver’s licenses. 

Highlighting the severity of the crash and the risks posed by unqualified drivers, DeSantis declared, “Extradite him back to the state of Florida, and we’re gonna throw the book at him when he gets back here for what he did.”

Singh, who entered the United States illegally in 2018, acquired licenses in both Washington State and California. 

Washington granted him a full-term commercial driver’s license in July 2023, while California issued a limited-term, non-domiciled CDL. 

These licenses allowed Singh to operate a 40-ton commercial vehicle despite failing basic English proficiency tests, raising concerns over gaps in federal and state enforcement under the Biden administration. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation confirmed a federal investigation led by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which determined Singh was unqualified to operate commercial vehicles due to his lack of English proficiency. 

The investigation will also examine the motor carrier that employed Singh, along with the states that issued his licenses, to determine whether federal regulations were properly enforced, Florida Voice reports. 

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy called the crash a “preventable tragedy,” emphasizing that non-enforcement of safety standards directly contributed to the deaths of three innocent people.

Preliminary FMCSA findings revealed additional lapses. 

On July 3, New Mexico State Police conducted a roadside inspection of Singh but did not administer the federally mandated English assessment, allowing him to continue driving without meeting legal requirements. 

California’s limited-term CDL and Washington’s full-term license are now under review. 

These enforcement gaps highlight systemic issues in the issuance of commercial licenses and the oversight of foreign nationals operating large commercial vehicles.

DeSantis, a longtime proponent of strict immigration policies, emphasized that the trucking company that employed Singh bears responsibility as well. 

“Companies like this cannot be allowed to put Americans at risk,” DeSantis said, signaling that both the driver and the employer will be held accountable. 

The governor’s comments reinforce his administration’s stance on holding all parties responsible when federal and state regulations are ignored or bypassed.

Singh’s fatal U-turn, which involved a semitruck colliding with a minivan, tragically killed all three occupants. 

The Department of Transportation noted that the federal probe will assist Florida authorities in their ongoing criminal investigation, ensuring those responsible for lapses in enforcement and unsafe practices face scrutiny. 

The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when unqualified individuals are allowed to operate commercial vehicles and raises questions about the Biden administration’s role in permitting such licenses to be issued.

With DeSantis’s firm enforcement policies, Florida is positioning itself as a model for strict accountability, contrasting sharply with the perceived lapses in other states that allowed Singh to legally obtain licenses despite failing essential safety requirements.

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