USDOT says driver in Florida Turnpike crash failed English Language Proficiency assessment, other FMCSA findings released

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the launch of a major investigation into the driver and carrier involved in last week’s triple fatality illegal U-turn crash on the Florida Turnpike in Fort Pierce.

On August 19, 2025, USDOT announced that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has launched an investigation into the August 12 Florida Turnpike crash, with a focus on “the driver involved in the crash and the motor carrier, White Hawk Carriers, Inc.”

USDOT does not name Harjinder Singh, though he has been identified as the truck driver in the crash by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Singh has been charged with vehicular homicide and faces an ICE detainer.

According to USDOT, an FMCSA investigation was launched on August 14 at the motor carrier’s premises in California. As part of this investigation, FMCSA reviewed driver-facing and outward facing dash cam video as well as driver qualification files, and an interview was conducted with the “crash-involved driver.”

“During FMCSA’s interview with the driver, investigators administered an English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment in accordance with FMCSA guidance. The driver failed the assessment, providing correct responses to just 2 of 12 verbal questions and only accurately identifying 1 of 4 highway traffic signs,” said USDOT.

Other key findings released from the FMCSA investigation can be viewed below:

• On July 15, 2023, Washington State issued the driver a regular full-term Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
  • Asylum seekers or individuals without legal status are NOT eligible for this type of license.
• On July 23, 2024, California issued the driver a limited-term/non-domiciled CDL.
  • FMCSA is investigating the issuance of this license to determine whether it was issued in accordance with Federal regulations.
• On July 3, 2025, the New Mexico State Police conducted a roadside inspection of the driver and issued a speeding ticket, but there is no indication that an ELP assessment was administered.
  • New Mexico has not yet begun enforcing ELP as an out-of-service condition, despite the requirement being in effect since June 25, 2025.

USDOT states that “both Washington State and New Mexico violated FMCSA rules.”

“If states had followed the rules, this driver would never have been behind the wheel and three precious lives would still be with us. This crash was a preventable tragedy directly caused by reckless decisions and compounded by despicable failures. Non-enforcement and radical immigration policies have turned the trucking industry into a lawless frontier, resulting in unqualified foreign drivers improperly acquiring licenses to operate 40-ton vehicles,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “We will use every tool at our disposal to hold these states and bad actors accountable. President Trump and I will restore safety to our roads. The families of the deceased deserve justice.”

USDOT says that the ongoing FMCSA investigation will support Florida’s criminal investigation.