Lede: A deadly crash on Florida's Turnpike resulted in three fatalities after a truck driver made an illegal U-turn, according to authorities.
On August 12, 28-year-old Harjinder Singh allegedly blocked all northbound lanes while executing the maneuver in Fort Pierce. The incident claimed the lives of three individuals, including 30-year-old Herby Dufresne, who was in the U.S. legally through a humanitarian parole program.
Witnesses described Dufresne as a dedicated father and hard worker, lamenting the impact on his family, including a five-year-old daughter. Following the crash, Singh reportedly scored just 2 out of 12 on an English proficiency test despite holding valid commercial driver's licenses in California and Washington.
Authorities expressed outrage, with Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Gov. Ron DeSantis attributing responsibility to California's policies. They emphasized that federal law requires commercial drivers to be legally present and to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency.
California's Department of Motor Vehicles stated it adhered to all federal and state laws when issuing Singh's license. Federal guidelines mandate that driving tests be conducted in English, and the California DMV confirmed Singh's legal status via the SAVE system.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that California, Washington, and New Mexico could face the loss of federal highway safety funds for failing to enforce English proficiency rules among truck drivers. Investigations revealed California had a notably low number of removals for English violations, raising concerns among federal officials.
Singh faces felony charges, including vehicular homicide, which could result in decades of imprisonment.