A wrongful death lawsuit was filed following a fatal crash on Florida's Turnpike that killed three people when a commercial truck driver attempted an illegal U-turn. On August 12, 2025, at approximately 2:57 p.m., truck driver Harjinder Singh attempted to make a U-turn through a clearly marked median crossover near Mile Marker 171 in St. Lucie County that was designated for official use only. The 53-foot trailer swung across and blocked all northbound travel lanes. A minivan driven by Herby Dufresne and carrying passengers Rodrigue Dor and Faniola Joseph struck the left side of the trailer in what the complaint describes as a fatal underride crash. All three occupants were killed. The lawsuit, filed by an attorney representing the estate of victim Faniola Joseph, names multiple defendants including the truck driver, White Hawk Carriers Inc., C.H. Robinson, and company manager Harpreet Singh.
The complaint raises serious questions about the truck driver's qualifications. According to the lawsuit, Harjinder Singh was present in the United States without lawful immigration status and without authorization to work. Despite this alleged status, Singh obtained a Class A California commercial driver's license, which the complaint states was issued in violation of applicable federal and state regulations. The lawsuit further alleges Singh lacked required English language proficiency under federal regulations that mandate commercial drivers must read and speak English sufficiently to understand highway signs and respond to official inquiries.
Before C.H. Robinson selected White Hawk Carriers to transport the load, the trucking company had already accumulated a documented unsafe federal safety record, according to the complaint. This record included a prior reportable crash in December 2024, multiple roadside inspection citations for unsafe driving violations including speeding and improper lane changes, repeated hours-of-service violations with falsified duty status records, and vehicle defects including brake problems and air-brake leaks. The complaint alleges this safety information was publicly available through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Safety Measurement System. C.H. Robinson, described as one of the largest transportation brokers in the United States with headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and eight Florida offices, marketed itself as a company that properly vets carriers using federal safety data but allegedly failed to do so in this case.
The lawsuit names Harpreet Singh, identified as a White Hawk Carriers manager and California resident, individually as a defendant. The complaint alleges he was personally responsible for hiring, training, and supervising company drivers, including Harjinder Singh, and failed to adequately investigate the truck driver's immigration status, work authorization, English proficiency, and overall fitness before hiring. Additionally, an unauthorized passenger identified as Harneet Singh was in the truck cab at the time of the crash, representing violations of safety standards and federal motor carrier regulations. The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $75,000 under Florida's Wrongful Death Act.