TAMPA, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Thursday that his office has issued criminal and civil subpoenas to White Hawk Carriers, the employer of a truck driver involved in a fatal crash in St. Lucie County that resulted in three fatalities.
The driver, Harjinder Singh, who is reportedly an undocumented immigrant, made a hazardous U-turn that caused the crash. Authorities confirmed that Singh, who received Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) from both Washington and California, could not speak English and was unable to read road signs, raising serious questions about his qualifications to operate a commercial vehicle.
“Authorities said this driver should never have been licensed,” Uthmeier stated. He emphasized the state's commitment to using legal measures to protect citizens and ensure accountability.
In conjunction with the subpoenas, Uthmeier's office has reached out to both Washington and California to investigate how Singh obtained his CDLs and to assess the potential issuance of licenses to other undocumented individuals lacking federal competency standards.
Local law enforcement was present at the announcement, with Uthmeier commending the sheriff's office for ongoing efforts to combat crime.
This case has ignited a larger discussion about licensing regulations and public safety in relation to undocumented individuals operating commercial vehicles.