SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, ARIZONA — Arizona Highway Patrol troopers from the Southeast and Tucson Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Squads conducted a five-hour commercial motor vehicle enforcement detail in Santa Cruz County on April 15, 2026, uncovering 93 total violations across just 15 inspections.
AZDPS Highway Patrol
The detail ran from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and produced the following results:
• 15 CMV Inspections Conducted
• 93 Total Violations
• 1 Driver Placed Out of Service
• 5 Vehicles Placed Out of Service
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
CANADA — The Canadian trucking industry’s use of Temporary Foreign Worker permits has quadrupled over the past 14 years, with approvals for long-haul truck driver positions rising from 1,950 in 2010 to more than 8,200 in 2024 — a 320% increase — according to a new Teamsters Canada report released April 17. The union argues the numbers reveal an industry that has chosen to import labor rather than fix the underlying conditions driving domestic drivers away.
Trucking accounts for 35% of Canada’s trade by value. The industry has long cited chronic driver shortages as justification for its reliance on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. But Teamsters Canada President François Laporte said the data tells a different story. “For more than a decade, the industry told governments that there is a driver shortage in Canada. What the data actually shows is that Canadians are not lining up for jobs that don’t pay enough to live on and have seen labor standards eroded year after year,” Laporte said.
A Structural Shift in How the Industry Staffs Itself
The report, based on federal program data obtained through Access-to-Information requests, found that some companies received hundreds of TFW permits over multiple years — a pattern the union says indicates the program has become a permanent staffing strategy rather than a temporary fix. Foreign drivers now make up an estimated 14% of the long-haul workforce nationally. In some prairie provinces, that share exceeds 25%.
The union describes what it calls a “downward spiral” within the industry. Stagnant wages and difficult working conditions discourage Canadians from entering or staying in trucking. Rather than addressing those conditions, employers turn to the TFW program to fill vacancies — reinforcing the cycle. “Don’t blame immigrants,” Laporte said. “Blame the politicians for believing everything companies say, and for allowing the trucking industry to use migrant labor as a substitute for paying far more competitive wages.”
How the Industry Is Treating Foreign Workers
Because TFW permits are tied to a single employer, migrant drivers have little power to push back against poor treatment. The report documented cases of $5,000 recruitment fees charged to workers, unpaid overtime, and drivers sleeping in trucks because employer-provided accommodations failed inspections. Workers are often reluctant to file complaints out of fear of dismissal and deportation.
The findings echo concerns from international organizations. A 2024 report from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery described Canada’s TFW program as a “breeding ground” for modern slavery. Amnesty International raised similar concerns in 2025. The union also flagged ongoing misclassification of drivers under schemes such as Driver Inc. as a related concern.
What the Industry Says
Industry associations counter that without foreign labor, freight rates would spike and supply chains would suffer. They are urging the government to speed up recognition of overseas commercial driver licenses and expand the Rural Renewal immigration stream so migrant drivers can transition to permanent residence more quickly.
What Needs to Change
Teamsters Canada is calling on the federal government to reduce closed work permits in trucking, establish a meaningful wage floor, enforce pay rules covering all hours worked, and create clearer pathways to permanent residency for TFWs already in Canada. The union is also pushing for full implementation of Driver Inc. crackdown measures from Budget 2025 and is renewing its call for truck driving to be formally recognized as a skilled trade — a move it says would help raise industry standards across the board.
Ottawa’s 2026-2028 Regulatory Plan already proposes license-suspension authority for repeat TFW program violators and mandatory posting of compliance audits, signaling tighter oversight is coming for fleet operators who have relied heavily on the program.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
MIFFLIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA — The Mifflin County Coroner has identified the driver killed when a tractor-trailer plunged into the Laurel Creek Reservoir early Friday morning as Steven Larrabee, 72, of Christiana, Lancaster County. Recovery crews spent nearly nine hours working at the scene before removing Larrabee from the fully submerged tractor. An autopsy will be performed. The crash investigation remains ongoing.
Coroner Andrea Alcalde confirmed the identification. “The Mifflin County Coroner’s Office extends its sincere appreciation to all responding agencies for their professionalism, coordination, and assistance throughout the response and recovery efforts,” Alcalde said.
City Hook & Ladder #14
What Happened
The crash occurred at approximately 2:30-2:45 a.m. Friday on U.S. Route 322 westbound in Mifflin County. Larrabee’s tractor-trailer failed to negotiate a right curve, struck the center concrete barrier, went through a guardrail, and continued onto a gravel road for approximately 150 feet before going over an embankment and plunging into the Laurel Creek Reservoir — the primary water source for the Mifflin County Water Authority.
The tractor was fully submerged. The trailer was partially submerged. Numerous dive teams from across the region, including from Lewistown and Newton-Hamilton, responded to assist in the recovery effort alongside multiple other agencies. The tractor-trailer was removed from the reservoir after nearly nine hours of work on scene.
City Hook & Ladder #14
Water Advisory
As a result of the crash, the Mifflin County Municipal Authority issued a Do Not Drink the Water Notice for its customers on Saturday, April 18, after an electrical transformer surge caused a catastrophic loss to one of the primary alternate water sources, making it impossible to meet water system demands without drawing from the Laurel Creek Reservoir. The authority stopped sourcing water from the reservoir immediately following the crash. Water that was already in the distribution system before the notice was drawn and treated before the crash and meets water quality standards.
The advisory will remain in effect until the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection completes its water quality testing, which is expected to conclude by Monday morning at the latest. Lewistown Borough is offering free bottled water for residents affected by the crash.
The Municipal Authority will provide updates on its website as information becomes available. Residents can also contact business manager Deanna Hassinger at 717-248-0165.
Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate the crash. The Mifflin County Coroner’s Office is conducting an autopsy.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
BELFAIR, WASHINGTON — A Belfair tow truck driver hiked more than half a mile through dense woods in the middle of the night to rescue a young Uber Eats driver who had followed GPS directions onto a private logging road and gotten his car stuck in the mud nearly a mile and a half from the nearest accessible road.
Sam Cadle of North Shore Towing received the call after a man in his early 20s, unfamiliar with the area, became stranded while making a delivery Sunday night. The driver had been using Waze, which directed him down an unpaved road onto private property. He traveled approximately 1.5 miles before his car became hopelessly stuck.
Cadle said reaching the driver was not straightforward. By around 10:30 p.m., he determined he could not drive his tow truck onto the private property. He found an old logging road but that route was barricaded and also blocked access. With no way to drive in, Cadle set out on foot at approximately 12:30 a.m., hiking about half a mile into the woods. He located the driver, walked him back out, and took him to his mother. Cadle did not charge for any of it.
“I didn’t charge his kid for anything I did Sunday night because I felt a need to get him out of the woods,” Cadle said. “I work in a people-helping business.”
The following morning, Cadle returned to recover the car. After obtaining permission from the Department of Natural Resources to access the area, he drove around to reach the vehicle and hired a mini excavator to pull it out of the mud. Despite minor scratches from the mud and brush, the car was returned to the driver in workable condition.
Cadle said the situation is a reminder for drivers to trust their instincts when something feels off. “If something doesn’t feel right, stop and reassess before you get yourself in trouble. Not everyone out there feels the obligation to help people and get them to safety,” he said.
He said his approach to the job has always gone beyond towing vehicles. “I’ve been in this industry a lot of years and that’s always been my take — I’m here to help people no matter what that looks like. Sometimes that’s a lot of long hours. That’s losing sleep. That’s part of the job. Whether or not I got his car out of there the next day, I wanted to make sure that he was a person was safe and that he got help when no one else would come help him,” Cadle said.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA — A semi-truck driver was killed Saturday morning after an Amtrak train struck his truck at a railroad crossing near McCoysburg, Indiana. The train was carrying approximately 94 passengers at the time of the collision.
Jasper County Sheriff’s Department 911 Dispatch began receiving multiple calls at approximately 8:10 a.m. on April 18, 2026, reporting a train versus semi-truck collision in the area of County Road 210 East. A crew member aboard the Amtrak train also called in to report the collision.
Preliminary investigation indicates the semi-truck was traveling northbound on County Road 210 East when a westbound Amtrak train struck it as it crossed the tracks. The railroad crossing was equipped with standard railroad crossing signs and stop signs, both of which were confirmed to be in the upright position at the time of the crash.
Jasper County Sheriff’s Office – Indiana
The driver of the semi-truck was transported to IU Arnett Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana, where he later succumbed to his injuries. His identity is being withheld pending notification of family. Approximately four to five additional individuals sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene without transport. Train passengers were safely evacuated and transported by bus to a secure location while the investigation was conducted.
Responding agencies included Jasper County EMS, Keener Township EMS, Wheatfield EMS, Francesville EMS, Monticello EMS, Benton County EMS, the Rensselaer Fire Department, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police.
The investigation is ongoing and being led by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from Indiana State Police. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
ODESSA, TEXAS — The Ector County Sheriff’s Office and Odessa Crime Stoppers are seeking information on a semi-truck and trailer stolen from a local business Sunday afternoon, with a combined value of approximately $300,000.
The theft occurred at approximately 3:54 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at West Texas Cementers located on the 1500 block of South John Ben Shepperd Parkway in Odessa.
Screenshot
The stolen vehicles are described as follows:
• A white 2023 Peterbilt semi-truck bearing Texas license plate R800559, with a maroon and black WTC business logo on both cabin doors. Value: approximately $150,000.
• A gray 2012 trailer bearing Texas license plate 256B462. Value: approximately $150,000.
Around the time of the theft, a dark gray or black truck was seen on the property and in the surrounding area, possibly belonging to the suspect or suspects.
Screenshot
Anyone with information is asked to contact Odessa Crime Stoppers anonymously at 432-333-TIPS, through the P3 Tips app, or at www.333tips.org. Do not submit tips through Facebook or Messenger. A cash reward is available to those who submit a tip through official Crime Stoppers channels and obtain a Crime Stoppers code number. Information must be previously unknown to law enforcement to qualify for a reward.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
WALL, NEW JERSEY — A tractor-trailer exiting a business on Route 34 in Wall Friday morning became entangled in overhead utility lines, sending live wires down onto four vehicles, trapping two people in a car that caught fire, and knocking out power to more than 700 customers.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. on the northbound side of Route 34 near Hurley Pond Road. The fallen wires trapped two people inside one of the vehicles. The vehicle then caught fire. Glendola Fire Company and South Wall Fire Rescue responded, quickly extinguished the fire, and removed both occupants, who were treated for injuries.
Route 34 northbound remained closed as of 1 p.m. with traffic being detoured. One lane remained open on the southbound side, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
JCP&L reported that more than 700 customers initially lost power. As of 1 p.m., approximately 200 homes and businesses remained without power. Full restoration was expected by approximately 3:30 p.m.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
MIFFLIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA — A tractor-trailer crash into the Laurel Creek Reservoir on Friday killed the driver and triggered a water emergency for Mifflin County residents, with a Do Not Drink the Water Notice issued Saturday after the crash disrupted the county’s primary water supply.
The Crash
According to Pennsylvania State Police, the tractor-trailer was traveling westbound on U.S. 322 in Mifflin County Friday morning when the driver failed to negotiate a right curve and struck a center concrete divider. The vehicle left the right side of the roadway at the Filter Plant Access Road, crashed through a guardrail onto a gravel road, traveled approximately 150 feet, and plunged over an embankment into the Laurel Creek Reservoir below.
The tractor was completely submerged. The trailer was partially submerged and visible above the waterline. The Mifflin County coroner confirmed the truck driver died in the crash. The driver’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
City Hook & Ladder #14 on Facebook
First responders including county water authority employees, PennDOT, and hazmat crews were on scene from approximately 10 a.m. Multiple recovery vehicles staged on the Milroy onramp. A tow truck parked near the damaged guardrail. Boats and divers worked in the water around the submerged truck. U.S. 322 westbound was reduced to one lane during the recovery effort. The truck and its cargo were removed from the reservoir at 10 p.m.
Responding agencies included the Mifflin County EMA Director, Troop G CARS Unit, Milroy EMS, Milroy Fire Company, Newton-Wayne Fire Company Dive Team, City Hook and Ladder Water Rescue, River Raptor, and Eagle Towing.
The Water Emergency
The Mifflin County Municipal Authority immediately halted water production at the Laurel Creek Filtration Plant and issued a mandatory water use restriction following the crash due to the potential for hazardous material contamination. No confirmed contamination has been detected.
“Our technical team is conducting intensive water quality testing. MCMA is working closely with the PA Department of Environmental Protection to monitor the situation,” the authority said. The DEP required the county to rely on alternate well fields until water quality testing from the reservoir is completed.
Saturday Update
On Saturday, April 18, MCMA issued a formal Do Not Drink the Water Notice after an electrical transformer surge caused a catastrophic loss to one of the primary alternate water sources, making it impossible to meet water system demands without drawing from the Laurel Creek Reservoir. The Laurel Creek Filtration Plant is scheduled to resume withdrawing and treating water from the reservoir Saturday and begin distributing to the water system.
MCMA noted that water already in the distribution system before the notice was drawn and treated before the crash and meets water quality standards. Results from quality testing should be available within a couple of days. The authority will announce locations where water will be made available to residents.
Residents in the affected area are advised to conserve water for essential uses only until normal operations resume. Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate the crash.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY — A 39-year-old Trenton truck driver died Thursday afternoon after his tractor-trailer lost control on Interstate 295 southbound, ran off the roadway, and slammed into the center concrete bridge support of a County Road 603 overpass.
CBS
New Jersey State Police responded at approximately 12:37 p.m. on April 16 to the crash near milepost 39.6 in Mount Laurel Township. Dorian Flemmins, 39, of Trenton, was driving a Volvo tractor-trailer southbound when the truck ran off the left side of the roadway, struck the east guardrail, and then hit the center concrete bridge support. Flemmins was pronounced dead at the scene.
Photos from the aftermath showed the top of the tractor-trailer peeled back from the impact with the structure. The cab also sustained significant damage. Dashcam footage captured the moment of the crash.
The crash remains under investigation. No additional details have been released.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC — An Canadian truck driver has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death after admitting he was playing an online cellphone game when he failed to slow down for a construction zone on Highway 30 near Montreal, triggering a seven-vehicle pileup that killed a mother and her 11-year-old son and injured 10 others.
Baljeet Singh, 29, appeared at the Longueuil courthouse Wednesday via videoconference from a detention centre. He pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing death and three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. Sentencing is scheduled for June 4.
The Crash
On the night of July 19, 2022, Singh was driving a 53-foot tractor-trailer on Highway 30 in Brossard when traffic slowed approaching a construction zone near Grande-Allée Boulevard. Singh failed to slow down in time and slammed into several vehicles. Seven vehicles were struck in the pileup.
An agreed statement of facts revealed Singh had used his cellphone 18 times in the hour before the crash. At the time of impact, he was playing Ludo — a strategy-based online board game — on his phone. His eyes were not on the road.
Multiple warning signs were visible along the road before the crash — brake lights, yellow flashing lights, traffic cones, and vehicles ahead rapidly slowing. A collision reconstructionist determined Singh only reacted 0.35 seconds before impact. The crash could have been avoided had he changed lanes in time.
“The driver should have been alerted by these signs and remained more vigilant so as to be ready to react. The video clearly shows the driver’s lack of reaction until the very end,” the agreed statement of facts stated.
The Victims
Nancy Lefrançois, 42, was driving a Dodge Challenger with her 11-year-old son Loïc Chevalier and two other passengers. Both mother and son had just celebrated their birthdays in the days before the crash. Lefrançois was pronounced dead at the scene. Loïc was pronounced dead in hospital.
Her husband, Benoit Lavoie, suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs, a concussion, head trauma, and scalp lacerations. He was in a coma for three weeks — causing him to miss his wife’s funeral. A 16-year-old passenger suffered internal bleeding, a broken nose, spinal injuries, and several lacerations. He was intubated for two days and required plastic surgery on his head and face. Several others sustained serious injuries.
A Pattern of Dangerous Driving
Dashcam footage from Singh’s truck showed more than 40 traffic violations during his last three trips, including repeated cellphone use while driving, weaving between lanes, and failure to take mandatory rest periods — resulting in exceeded driving hours. Call logs showed he was on the phone with another man in the hour before the crash and frequently played online games with him.
Singh Fled to India
After being treated for shock and discharged from hospital at 4:45 a.m. on July 20, Singh voluntarily met with investigators and claimed he had no memory of the crash. That same afternoon, he bought a plane ticket at 3:37 p.m. and flew to India. He deleted his social media accounts. Police could not reach him. A Canada-wide arrest warrant was issued on July 13, 2023.
Authorities said Singh fled to Toronto before leaving for India and later California. U.S. federal agents arrested him in California on August 21, 2025. He did not contest extradition. The following month, he was arrested by the Sûreté du Québec and returned to Canada, where he admitted he was playing Ludo when the crash happened and that his eyes were off the road. He has been in custody since September 11, 2025.
Singh has expressed remorse. “He expresses his regret to the victims, their loved ones, and his family,” the agreed statement of facts stated. He has admitted the pileup was his fault and said he wants to be held accountable.
Dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment in Canada.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
