Investigation launched into deadly Turnpike crash in Fort Pierce

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is looking into the tragic accident that occurred on the Florida Turnpike, resulting in the loss of three lives in Fort Pierce. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that an investigation will be conducted regarding the driver as well as the motor carrier, White Hawk Carriers, Inc. The driver involved, Harjinder Singh, will be extradited back to Florida this Thursday. The collision was described as a "preventable tragedy" by Duffy, who expressed concerns about the trucking industry becoming lawless due to non-enforcement and immigration policies. Singh, the semi-truck driver accused of making an illegal U-turn on the Turnpike, appeared in a California court for an extradition hearing after absconding to Sacramento following the accident. He faces three counts of vehicular manslaughter for the illegal U-turn incident. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis condemned Singh's actions and criticized the issuance of a commercial driver's license to him by California. Singh, who entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018, was approved for work authorization in 2021 despite a denial in 2020. Authorities found deficiencies in Singh's English Language Proficiency (ELP) during the investigation, along with discrepancies in the issuance of his CDL by different states. Governor DeSantis has taken action to extradite Singh back to Florida and intends to pursue legal consequences. He also expressed concerns about sanctuary state policies like those in California influencing incidents in other states.