undocumented Indian trucker caused deadly accident in Florida... fallout in India and America

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

Summary of the drama that's become and international incident:
1. Undocumented trucker driver from Indian, Reportedly, he paid for the license... so not trained.
2. Makes a illegal U turn in front of traffic moving at 60+ MPH. unavoidable for car to hit truck. 3 dead
3. The video of the event makes it clear that the trucker is at fault.
4. Facing 45 years in prison
5. Indians have petition with almost 3 million signatures.. "it was a mistake, shouldnt cost him his life"
6. Trump admin cuts off licensing to immigrants
7. Incident feeds into Trump and DeSantis hostility towards immigrants




https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hes-only-28-family-of-indian-origin-truck-driver-behind-us-crash-call-for-light-penalty-9150314

"He's Only 28": Family Of Indian-Origin Truck Driver Behind US Crash Call For Light Penalty Harjinder is facing charges of vehicular homicide in the US for allegedly causing a crash resulting in the death of three people on a Florida highway on August 12

Harjinder Singh crossed into US illegally in 2018; obtained a commercial driver's license in California.

'He is only 28', 'it was his bad luck' - the family and the entire village of Indian-origin trucker Harjinder Singh, who is staring at a potential 45-year jail sentence for allegedly causing a deadly crash in the US, is rallying behind him, calling for a lenient punishment.

A campaign has also been started online to generate support for the 28-year-old driver from Rataul village in Punjab's Tarn Taran district.

Harjinder (28) is facing charges of vehicular homicide in the US for allegedly causing a crash resulting in the death of three people on a Florida highway on August 12, according to a media report. He was driving a tractor-trailer and allegedly took an illegal U-turn.

After the accident, he fled to California but was brought back to Florida following the arrest, the New York Post reported on Thursday.

----------------------------

Case of jailed trucker puts a spotlight on Trump immigration policy
An Indian trucker, in the US illegally, is accused of causing a fatal accident in Florida. Now the Trump administration is cracking down on all immigrant truckers.

A fatal Florida crash blamed on a trucker who the Trump administration says is an undocumented immigrant is drawing new attention to the White House's crackdown on commercial drivers. Harjinder Singh remains jailed on charges that he killed three people in a minivan Aug. 12 when he illegally made a U-turn across a Florida highway.

An international petition calling for Gov. Ron DeSantis to offer clemency has drawn more than 2.8 million signatures of support, arguing that while tragic, the crash was a "catastrophic accident" and that Singh shouldn't face vehicular manslaughter charges.

"While accountability matters, the severity of the charges against him does not align with the circumstances of the incident," says the petition, organized by advocates calling themselves "Collective Punjabi Youth." "By granting clemency, you would reaffirm the value of proportional justice, the power of community advocacy, and the potential for rehabilitation."

DeSantis responded in a Aug. 25 social-media post: "If you're driving as an illegal alien in Florida, you will face the consequences." Singh, originally from India, entered the United States illegally through the Mexico border in 2018, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The names of the three people who died in the crash have not been released, and video purporting to be from the cab of his truck appears to show Singh react to the crash with almost no remorse.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/08/25/trucker-accident-florida-spotlight-immigration-policy/85821567007/

[Lovie777]

1. But India?...........

isn't Vance wife's heritage from India?

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

2. yes.

[mcar]

3. Immigration status notwithstanding,

he caused the deaths of 3 human beings.

[malaise]

5. Bingo

Rec

[jfz9580m]

21. Yeah

I think about this wrt less clear stuff like illicit deployment of technology that causes real harm as well.

I have thought about it ever since I lost my mom. I did everything I could for her and she had an excellent oncologist but I used to feel our seclusion was intruded on and that stresses one as a caregiver…

[Baitball Blogger]

33. I too am sensing a disregard for human life, and not just from the driver.

[malaise]

4. Mistake my ass

I watched the video. A careless mofo who apparently doesn’t know a vehicle that size can be a weapon.
Whether he is legal or illegal, that was vehicular homicide.
There are way too many hard working decent folks being detained by ICE for me to waste energy on this moron.

[Melon]

7. This guy needs put away. That was the dumbest

Driving maneuver I’ve seen in a long time. Plus he can see the crushed car under his truck. No reaction. Doesn’t get out to help. Doesn’t call for help. Zero emotion at all.

Just as a truck driver this was horrible.

[jfz9580m]

25. Thanks

I agree. I can’t believe this “petition” got 3 million signatures.

[Jim__]

6. He illegally entered the US in 2018! Trump let him in! Trump's guilty of murder!

Trump did it! Trump did it!

[W_HAMILTON]

28. And Trump has been deporting sick kids instead of this guy.

More proof he's just a lying conman.

This anecdote shouldn't reinforce Trump's and DeSantis's position on immigration/deportation -- it should emphasize what a failure it has been.

[JI7]

8. It's mainly Sikhs from Punjab. He claimed asylum by saying

he was in fear of returning to India.

There is a lot of anti hindu bs that is spread and used by certain people.

These people don't even claim to be Indian and identify as Punjabi and want a separate nation.

But now ignorant people are resonding to this by attacking Hindus.

Nobody from India should be able to claim asylum in western democratic nations.

[fujiyamasan]

20. Probably used the "donkey" route

It’s very lucrative for the smugglers, and often times these folks’ families are taking out massive loans to head to Mexico or elsewhere in Latin America. So clearly they have collateral (often in farm land) and can somehow pay for a plane ticket.

Their claims of asylum have always been bullshit, just like most illegal border crossings from Indian migrants. The same goes with Gujratis that did the same thing. These folks are not being persecuted.

I have some respect for the H1 workers who have some skill and tried coming the legal route (though that system has been abused too), but asylum abuse has turned the system into a joke.

[MichMan]

10. How did he ever get a CDL license?

I saw that he couldn't read or understand road signs

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

12. info here:

The crash sparked a clash between US Department of Homeland Security and California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom over Harjinder Singh, a native of India, obtaining a work permit and driver’s license in the state. The Trump administration says Singh was in the US illegally.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/24/us/harjinder-singh-florida-crash-immigration#:~:text=Gavin%20Newsom%20over%20Harjinder%20Singh,denied%20bond%20on%20all%20charges.

[pcdb]

16. How in the world did he get a CDL license?

He lacked proficiency in English and the ability to understand road signage. I love Newsome but this is ridiculous.

[W_HAMILTON]

29. You love him so much but you don't even know how to spell his name?

Why has Trump prioritized deporting sick kids and grandmas over someone like this?

PS - Welcome to DU or something!

[Emile]

31. Do you have proof that Newsom was involved?

[LeftInTX]

13. What? They have road signs in India. It's kinda the same as here.

Except they use metric.

[MichMan]

14. Doesn't mean he was qualified to drive a big truck

FMCSA investigators began an "on-site compliance investigation on August 14, 2025, at the motor carrier's premises in California," according to the release. "During the initial phase of the compliance investigation, investigators reviewed driver qualification files, obtained in-cab and forward-facing video footage of the crash, and conducted interviews with key personnel including the crash-involved driver."

FMCSA spoke to the driver and administered an English language proficiency test in line with the agency's new guidance on the topic published in June. The driver failed that assessment, "providing correct responses to just 2 of 12 verbal questions and only accurately identifying 1 of 4 highway traffic signs."

https://www.overdriveonline.com/regulations/article/15753380/dot-investigation-finds-states-broke-federal-licensing-rules-after-deadly-florida-crash

[LeftInTX]

11. Driving in India is crazy

&ab_channel=MIRRORNOW

&ab_channel=PahadiBandeVlogs

[CozyMystery]

15. Illegal alien, got CDL illegally, drove truck illegally, made illegal u-turn, killed 3 people unjustifiably his fault

I see nothing in this chain of events that wasn't his choice. Certainly he did not intend to kill anyone but that just makes it an illegal killing that was not murder one.

His remorse (or lack of it), his being from India, his being used to the way the people of India drive, his age ... none of that has a thing to do with the consequences, IMO.

[MichMan]

34. What illegal acts did he do to obtain a CDL?

Both California and Washington issued him one.

[dalton99a]

17. POS is a cold-blooded, stupid, murderous asshole.

[flvegan]

18. Enjoy prison, shitbrick. n/t

[fujiyamasan]

19. This kind of story plays perfectly into Trump's hands

As much as I love Newsom’s recent trolling of Trump, stories like this would doom his candidacy.

I find it ridiculous enough to issue ordinary drivers licenses to undocumented people, but fucking CDLs? Seriously? This was always a clear threat to public safety. Whoever signed off on this as a matter of policy should have no future in democratic politics and it should be investigated if there’s more of this.

Maybe there was bribery involved at a lower level in this case, because getting a drivers license in India more often than not involves bribing the local bearocrat.

And if this guy claimed asylum, this is even more insulting and clear abuse of a system that unfortunately was allowed to rot even further during the last administration.

Now we have a fascist at the helm, so expect more scapegoating and demonization of all immigrants and minorities.

[W_HAMILTON]

30. While Trump was busy deporting sick kids and pulling his National Guard stunts in LA and DC...

...this guy was out there a ticking time bomb.

Why hasn't Trump prioritzed people like this over deporting grandmas?

[MichMan]

35. All undocumented commercial drivers should be a priority for deportation?

How would one know which ones are "ticking time bombs" otherwise? I'm sure the RW would be all in favor of that.

Florida agrees, as they announced they are going to verify immigration status on all highway weigh stations.

[uponit7771]

37. Yes, I think that makes logical sense no? Truck driving is for rule followers and before Pedoprez it was easier to ..

.. to follow immigration rules.

[W_HAMILTON]

41. That's a question that should be asked of Trump and any other elected official that has prioritized deportations.

This is THEIR policy. They are the ones to answer your question -- not me.

I supported the Biden administration immigration and deportation policies.

They blamed Biden and his policies anytime an undocumented immigrant did something bad, so you can be DAMN SURE that Trump should be blamed for an undocumented immigrant coming into the country under his watch and later killing several people under his watch.

[DFW]

22. "It was his bad luck," says his family. The three people he killed had worse luck it seems to me.

And I wouldn't lay this at Newsom's feet. A state's governor can't be made personally responsible for every bribable bureaucrat in his state's Department of Motor Vehicles. Get the guy who lied and said he passed the test and issued him the license, not the state's governor, who obviously did issue an approval or authorization of same.

[malaise]

32. Correct

Rec

[MichMan]

36. Depends on what the response is by California and Washington.

No, a state governor is not personally responsible for all the actions of state employees. Both Gov. Newsom and Ferguson are however responsible for what happens now as a result and taking actions to prevent it from happening again.

Have those who issued the CDL been suspended pending investigation? Was it rogue employee(s) or were they following state policy directives?

What about all the other active CDL issued to undocumented immigrants? Have they been revoked and their employers notified ?

[DFW]

38. I don't know much of how things work in California

However, I would be very surprised to hear that the person who signed off on this guy getting such a license has not been asked to explain what qualifications were presented to justify the license being issued. If the qualifications all had identical portraits of Benjamin Franklin, the person accepting those qualifications had better look into requesting a ten year leave of absence.

[MichMan]

39. Perhaps, but waiting until the administration issues a statement before I assume anyone is being held accountable

[jfz9580m]

23. I am normally not for inclemency

But I have a hard time feeling any sympathy for this person.

[Buns_of_Fire]

24. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Driving on American roads with an Indian mindset is not a good mix.

[jfz9580m]

26. It's not necessarily an Indian mindset

India is a big country. Sadly, anywhere you go, the most vocal or conspicuous people get to seize the label of the country’s mindset if they have a large enough tribe.

People can be easy going in India in good ways. This is not an example of that.

[LeftInTX]

42. They drive crazy in India.

Although Indians over here quickly adapt, in India passing "head-on into oncoming traffic" is quite common.

[Emile]

27. Who sold him his license?

[Greg_In_SF]

40. It's not bad luck

It’s called vehicular homicide.

[jfz9580m]

43. That it is

The more I look at this story the more it disgusts me.

This guy should at the minimum get a decade in prison and the three million people signing that shameful and creepy “petition” are clueless and crass and doing their other countrymen and women a huge disservice.

This is the problem with overpopulation. Human life is considered cheap and becomes a numbers issue. I lost my mom and increasingly suspect severe negligence was a factor (she had an excellent oncologist, nurses etc). That’s not where the problem lay. It was the greed of the healthcare industry and predatory and parasitic technocrats.

I get so angry when I realize what that confusion was around the time she died. There was also a major figure in govt who died almost exactly at the same time. For memory.

I am also in an overpopulated country. I never say where I am from because I still take privacy very seriously and see it as fundamental to democracy if you want real citizens and not brainless pseudo adult influencers or even more criminal bullshit jobs of the kind I have seen for the last 13 years.

This creepy defence contracting bs in tech better stay out of my neighborhood and life.
My dad is an actual military vet and a patriot and he thinks that stuff is garbage and he doesn’t even know the extent of its parasitic leeching of human life for predatory purposes.

Only unsafe and insecure and to alarming extents situations result with such irresponsible disregard for the scale of offenses. I don’t drive anymore and never will because you can’t put other people at risk.

I never outright lie, but I am fine with refusing to answer questions about my location.

This guy has no excuse. I am furious about rubber stamps/theatre and bs safety with complete disregard for the real thing.