The fatal crash on Florida's Turnpike that claimed three lives on August 12, 2025, has ignited a fierce national debate over immigration, public safety, and state licensing policies. At the center of the controversy is Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old truck driver originally from India, who stands accused of making an illegal U-turn near Fort Pierce, about 50 miles north of West Palm Beach, resulting in a collision that killed three people traveling together in a minivan. The aftermath has seen not only criminal charges but also a political firestorm stretching from Florida courtrooms to the highest echelons of state and federal government.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Singh attempted the U-turn in an area clearly marked for “official use only,” blocking the northbound lanes with his semi-truck. The Chrysler minivan, with no time to react, collided with the trailer and was crushed beneath it. Two passengers died at the scene, and the driver succumbed to injuries at a hospital. Singh and his passenger, Harneet Singh, 25, were not injured in the crash.
Dashcam footage from Singh’s truck captured the illegal maneuver and the devastating impact, with the video rapidly circulating online and fueling public outcry. The victims were identified as a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach, a 54-year-old man from Miami, and a 30-year-old man from Florida City.
Singh’s immigration status quickly became a focal point. Florida authorities said Singh entered the United States illegally from Mexico in 2018. After his arrival, he was arrested by Border Patrol and faced fast-track deportation proceedings. However, as reported by Hindustan Times, Singh claimed fear of returning to India and was released on a $5,000 immigration bond in January 2019. Since then, he has remained in ongoing immigration proceedings.
Despite his undocumented status, Singh managed to obtain commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) in both California and Washington state. This was possible because California is one of 19 states, along with the District of Columbia, that issue driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status, according to the National Immigration Law Center. Supporters of such policies argue that licenses are essential for undocumented residents to work, transport children, and access medical care safely. Critics, however, see them as a dangerous loophole.
The controversy reached a fever pitch when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) weighed in. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called California’s practice of issuing commercial licenses to undocumented immigrants “asinine.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), DHS further criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, asking, “How many more innocent people have to die before Gavin Newsom stops playing games with the safety of the American public?” The department added that it was working to “free America from illegal aliens.”
Governor Newsom’s office fired back, emphasizing that Singh entered the U.S. in 2018, when Donald Trump was president, and that Newsom only became governor in 2019. Newsom’s press team also asserted that Singh obtained a work permit while Trump was in office, a claim disputed by DHS, which stated that Singh’s permit application was denied in September 2020 and only granted in June 2021, under President Joe Biden.
The debate didn’t stop there. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy called the crash “a preventable tragedy directly caused by reckless decisions and compounded by despicable failures.” Duffy added, “Non-enforcement and radical immigration policies have turned the trucking industry into a lawless frontier, resulting in unqualified foreign drivers improperly acquiring licenses to operate 40-ton vehicles.” The White House echoed these sentiments, blaming so-called “sanctuary state” policies for putting American lives at risk.
As the legal process unfolded, Singh’s lack of qualification for the job became even more apparent. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Singh failed the English language proficiency test administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, answering only two out of twelve questions correctly. He also managed to identify just one out of four highway signs during a road sign recognition test. These failures, combined with his immigration status, have intensified criticism of the licensing process and the oversight of commercial drivers.
After the crash, Singh and his passenger flew to Sacramento on August 13, 2025. A warrant for Singh’s arrest was issued on August 15, and he was taken into custody in Stockton, California, on August 16 by U.S. Marshals. On August 19, Singh appeared in San Joaquin County Superior Court wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, assisted by an interpreter. He confirmed to Judge John Soldati that he understood his rights, and a public defender was appointed. Singh signed extradition papers, starting the process for Florida authorities to take custody. The judge scheduled a review hearing for August 27, giving Florida 30 days to collect Singh. If not transferred by then, Singh must return to court in Stockton for further proceedings. He remains in custody without bail, also subject to a federal immigration detainer.
Meanwhile, the company that owned the truck, White Hawk Carriers, has come under scrutiny as well. Federal records show that White Hawk has lost its insurance and can no longer operate outside California, following a series of inspection violations. The company’s future remains uncertain as the investigation continues.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also weighed in, criticizing Singh’s demeanor after the crash as “really cold” and urging Congress to cut funding to sanctuary states. The case, he said, underscores the dangers of lax immigration and licensing policies.
If convicted in Florida, Singh faces up to 45 years in prison—15 years for each count of vehicular homicide. The federal government has also requested that Singh be transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after his criminal case concludes, raising the possibility of deportation.
Jennifer Perkins, Singh’s court-appointed public defender, declined to comment on the case. The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office was not immediately available for a statement.
This tragedy has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration, public safety, and the responsibilities of state and federal agencies. As the legal proceedings continue and political arguments rage on, the families of the victims are left to mourn, and the nation is left to grapple with the consequences of policy decisions that reach far beyond the scene of a single, devastating crash.
