FORT PIERCE, Fla. — An illegal alien truck driver accused of causing a crash that killed three people in Florida failed his commercial driver’s license (CDL) exam ten times in two months before finally obtaining a license in Washington state, according to the Florida Attorney General’s Office.

Officials identified the driver as Harjinder Singh, who allegedly crossed the southern border illegally in 2018. Singh is accused of causing a deadly crash in August in Fort Pierce after making an illegal U-turn that caused his 18-wheeler to jackknife, leading a van to slam into the side of the truck.

Investigators revealed that Singh failed his CDL knowledge test ten times between March 10 and May 5, 2023, and also failed his air brakes exam twice. Despite his poor English proficiency, the Washington training company certified that he could speak English, allowing him to receive a CDL there. California later issued him another license.

Bodycam footage from a July 3 traffic stop in New Mexico shows Singh struggling to communicate in English when pulled over for speeding. Officials said he had also failed English and road sign tests.

^{Harjinder Singh (St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office)}

Last week, the Florida Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against California and Washington in the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming both states violated federal law by issuing CDLs to illegal immigrants. The suit argues that the states failed to uphold federal safety and immigration compliance standards.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that states not enforcing English-language requirements for truckers would lose federal funding. “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,” Duffy said. “This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s road.”

According to Fox News, the Trump administration has already withheld over $40 million in federal highway safety funds from California for noncompliance.

^{Photo credit: St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office}

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