An unauthorized immigrant truck driver, linked to a tragic accident in Florida that claimed three lives, reportedly failed his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) test a staggering ten times within two months before finally obtaining his license in Washington state in 2023, according to a senior official from the Florida Attorney General’s Office.

Harjinder Singh, who entered the United States illegally through the southern border in 2018, is accused of causing the fatal crash in Fort Pierce, Florida, this past August, which resulted in three fatalities.

Florida AG officials discovered that Singh failed the CDL knowledge test in Washington state on ten occasions from March 10 to May 5, 2023. Additionally, he did not pass the air brakes knowledge test twice.

The company in Washington that provided Singh’s CDL training claimed he was competent in English, despite his apparent difficulty with the language, as noted by the senior official. Despite these challenges, Singh was granted his initial CDL in Washington, with California subsequently issuing him another license.

A bodycam image captures Harjinder Singh holding documents as a New Mexico State Police officer issues him a speeding citation during a traffic stop on July 3. (Source: New Mexico State Police bodycam)

Bodycam footage released in August shows Singh struggling with limited English after being pulled over for speeding in New Mexico a month earlier — a detail that has become a major focal point in the case.

The footage shows Singh being stopped by a New Mexico State Police officer on July 3 for allegedly driving 60 mph in a 45-mph zone.

Singh appeared apologetic as he received a ticket. He communicated clearly at first, but after signing paperwork and preparing to leave, the officer struggled to understand him.

A new mugshot provided by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office of Harjinder Singh, who was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Singh, an illegal immigrant commercial truck driver, is facing charges after three people were killed in a crash after he allegedly made an illegal U-turn on a Florida interstate Aug. 12.  (St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office)

Officials investigating the wreck in Florida said Singh failed English and road sign tests. He’s accused of jackknifing his 18-wheeler during an illegal U-turn, causing a van to smash into the side of the semi, leaving three people dead.

Last week, the Florida AG’s office sued California and Washington in a Supreme Court filing to prevent both states from issuing CDLs to illegal immigrants. The lawsuit accuses the states of failing to comply with federal safety and immigration status requirements.

Harjinder Singh, 28, was arrested after allegedly making an unauthorized U-turn in Florida that resulted in a crash that left three people dead, officials said. (St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Oct. 15 that many big rig drivers fail to meet English language requirements — a problem his department is now targeting.

“I put states on notice this summer: enforce the Trump Administration’s English language requirements or the checks stop coming,” Duffy said. “California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement. This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s road.”

The announcement followed the Trump administration’s decision to withhold more than $40 million in federal highway safety funds from California for failing to enforce federal English proficiency standards for truckers.