Illegal U-Turn by Truck Driver Results in Fatal Crash in St. Lucie County

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — An illegal U-turn made by truck driver Harjinder Singh, 28, caused a crash that killed three people on August 12, 2023, in St. Lucie County.

Singh was driving a 2024 International semi-tractor-trailer near mile marker 171 when he attempted the maneuver in an “official use only” area, resulting in his trailer colliding with a 2015 Chrysler Town & Country minivan. The minivan became wedged underneath the trailer, killing all three occupants instantly.

Following the incident, Singh was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide. On July 3, during a routine traffic stop in New Mexico, Singh was cited; he communicated with police in English. However, an English proficiency test he later took revealed significant deficiencies, as he answered only 2 of 12 verbal questions correctly and recognized just 1 of 4 traffic signs.

Authorities are investigating how Singh obtained commercial licenses across multiple states despite these findings. The New Mexico State Police noted that the initial traffic stop did not require an English Language Proficiency assessment, as communication was clear.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has outlined a new initiative to enforce federal English proficiency standards for commercial drivers, attributing the need for this plan to the fatal crash.

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