Fatal Turnpike Crash Linked to Licensed Truck Driver from California
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A crash on Florida’s Turnpike that killed three people on August 12 has raised questions about driver licensing processes, particularly after it was revealed that the driver, 28-year-old Harjinder Singh, held a commercial driver’s license issued by California.
According to investigators, Singh made an illegal U-turn on the Turnpike, blocking northbound lanes and causing a collision. Among the deceased was Herby Dufresne, 30, a Haitian father who legally entered the U.S. through a humanitarian program.
Witnesses stated Singh struggled with English, scoring only 2 out of 12 on a proficiency test after the incident. Despite this, he possessed valid commercial licenses from California and Washington.
Florida officials, including Governor Ron DeSantis, criticized California’s policies, asserting that federal law mandates drivers to be legally in the U.S. and proficient in English. California’s Department of Motor Vehicles, however, maintained that all licensing procedures followed federal and state regulations.
The federal government has threatened California, Washington, and New Mexico with the loss of highway safety funds unless they enforce English proficiency regulations. Recent inspections revealed that California had removed only one driver for an English violation out of approximately 34,000 inspections.
Singh now faces felony charges of vehicular homicide and manslaughter. Meanwhile, his advocate emphasized Singh’s remorse over the tragic event, stating, “I wished I could have held on to his life.”
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.