New details have emerged in a tragic crash on the Florida Turnpike involving an illegal migrant who made a reckless, unauthorized maneuver while operating a semi-truck. Authorities have confirmed that three victims were Haitian immigrants.
The incident occurred on August 12 when Herby Dufresne, 30, Faniola Joseph, 27, and Rodrigue Dor, 53, were traveling in a minivan that collided with an 18-wheeler driven by Harjinder Singh, an Indian immigrant. The crash happened as Singh attempted a U-turn in a restricted area, crossing multiple lanes and striking the minivan. Footage from Singh’s truck showed the devastating impact, with the minivan becoming wedged under the trailer.
Dufresne, who arrived in Miami in December 2023 via a Biden-era program that granted him a two-year permit to live and work in the U.S., was en route to Indiana with Dor, who had relocated after struggling to find employment in Florida. Joseph’s immigration status was not disclosed, though both he and Dor were reported to have previously resided in Florida.
Singh, an undocumented immigrant who entered California illegally in 2018, had obtained a commercial driver’s license despite failing English proficiency and road sign identification tests. Following the crash, authorities revealed that Singh correctly answered only two of 12 verbal questions on an English assessment and accurately identified one of four traffic signs.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles stated Singh was operating a 2024 International semi-truck when the collision occurred. Joseph and Dor were pronounced dead at the scene, while Dufresne succumbed to his injuries after being airlifted to a hospital. Singh faces vehicular homicide charges and immigration violations.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has highlighted the case in his criticism of California’s policies, citing concerns over drivers’ ability to read and understand English. Since the accident, DeSantis has directed Florida truck inspection sites to function as immigration checkpoints and pledged not to recognize licenses issued to undocumented individuals.