Florida AG Takes Action After Deadly Crash Involving Immigrant Truck Driver
In a decisive move addressing the tragic August 12 accident on the Florida Turnpike, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced his office will issue civil and criminal subpoenas to White Hawk Carriers, the employer of Harjinder Singh. Singh, the truck driver at the center of the investigation, is facing three counts of vehicular homicide after allegedly causing a deadly crash that claimed three lives in Fort Pierce. According to officials, Singh attempted an unauthorized U-turn that resulted in his trailer jackknifing before being struck by a minivan, killing all three occupants inside. The case has gained significant attention not only for the tragic loss of life but also because of questions surrounding Singh’s legal status and qualifications to operate a commercial vehicle.
The Attorney General’s investigation raises serious concerns about how Singh obtained his commercial driver’s license (CDL) despite what Uthmeier describes as significant barriers to proper qualification. “This guy did not know how to speak English. He could not read road signs. He never should have received that CDL license in the first place,” Uthmeier stated during a news conference announcing the action. Officials believe Singh crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2018, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer in August following the accident. After the crash, Singh was arrested in Stockton, California, and subsequently extradited to Florida to face the vehicular homicide charges that have devastated three families and raised questions about commercial licensing practices.
The investigation extends beyond just Singh’s employer, as Uthmeier’s office has also sent legal demands to California and Washington state officials seeking information about how Singh obtained his commercial driving credentials. This aspect of the investigation highlights the complex intersection of state and federal policies regarding driver’s licensing and immigration status. California, which reportedly issued Singh’s commercial license, passed legislation in 2013 allowing residents to obtain driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status. This policy difference between states has now become central to the Florida Attorney General’s investigation as he seeks to understand the full circumstances that led to the tragic accident and whether proper protocols were followed in qualifying Singh to operate a commercial vehicle.
Uthmeier framed the investigation as part of a broader effort to protect Florida residents, emphasizing that his office will “use every tool, every legal tool at our disposal to fight back and protect our citizens.” The subpoenas issued to White Hawk Carriers seek comprehensive information about their hiring practices, driver qualification procedures, and specific details about Singh’s employment history and training. The Attorney General questioned whether Singh could have properly completed the required training given the language barriers described, suggesting potential systemic issues in how commercial drivers are vetted before being allowed to operate massive vehicles on public roadways. The case has prompted renewed discussion about the responsibilities of trucking companies to ensure their drivers meet not just minimum legal requirements but are truly qualified to safely operate commercial vehicles.
The incident has also become entangled in ongoing national debates about immigration policy and sanctuary jurisdictions. Uthmeier’s office has previously announced investigations into sanctuary jurisdictions that provide commercial driving licenses to immigrants without legal status, suggesting this case may serve as a focal point in that broader inquiry. The involvement of ICE and the issuance of a detainer further complicates the legal landscape surrounding the case, as different levels of government and multiple states become involved in the aftermath of the deadly crash. While the primary focus remains on the tragic loss of life and determining legal accountability, the case inevitably touches on contentious policy questions about immigration enforcement, driver licensing standards, and state versus federal authority.
As the investigation proceeds, the families of the three victims continue to grapple with their devastating loss while seeking answers about how this tragedy could have been prevented. The case underscores the real-world consequences when systems designed to ensure public safety potentially fail. Whether through inadequate driver training, insufficient language requirements, improper licensing procedures, or employment practices that don’t properly screen for qualified drivers, the Florida Attorney General’s investigation aims to identify where breakdowns occurred and who bears responsibility. While Fox News Digital reached out to White Hawk Carriers for comment, their response was not included in the initial reporting, leaving unanswered questions about the company’s perspective on the unfolding investigation and their driver qualification procedures. As legal proceedings continue, both the criminal case against Singh and the broader investigation into licensing and employment practices will likely reveal more about the circumstances that led to this deadly crash on Florida’s highways.
