Fort Pierce, Florida – A deadly crash on August 12, 2025, revealed serious problems in how truck drivers are approved to work. Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old man, made an illegal U-turn in a large truck on Florida’s Turnpike. His truck blocked the road, and a minivan could not stop in time. Three people in the van died, while Singh walked away unhurt. (Indiatimes, Wikipedia, New York Post)

Singh is originally from India and entered the United States in 2018 without documentation. He applied for asylum at that time. His initial request for a work permit was denied during the Trump administration, but under the Biden administration in 2021, he was granted permission to work. Later, using that work authorization, he obtained a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in California. (Indiatimes, VisaVerge, AP News)

After the crash, investigators tested Singh’s knowledge of English and road signs. He answered just two of twelve English questions correctly and recognized only one of four common traffic signs, failing the basic safety checks that are required for commercial drivers. (Wikipedia)

Three days after the crash, Florida’s Lieutenant Governor flew to California to bring Singh back to Florida for trial. Governor DeSantis criticized the situation, asking how someone who could not understand English or road signs was allowed to drive a heavy truck. (AP News, VisaVerge, Straight Arrow News)

On August 21, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an immediate pause on all new worker visas for commercial truck drivers. He said that allowing foreign drivers who are not properly tested or trained to work threatens public safety and American jobs. (CBS News, Politico, The Times of India)

This crash has sparked national debate. Critics say it is not about immigration, but about weak rules and oversight that allowed an inadequately tested driver to get behind the wheel of a big truck. Faster processing of licenses does not protect people if important safety checks are skipped. Now, officials are under pressure to strengthen language and safety requirements for truck drivers, regardless of their immigration status.