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Mexican citizens were on their way to work on a farm in Florida when a pickup truck hit their bus, killing eight people

Theo

On Tuesday, Mexican citizens, among others, were on their way to work at a watermelon farm in Florida when the bus they were traveling in rammed off its side and crashed, killing eight people, officials said.

Alicia Bárcena, Mexico’s foreign minister, said Tuesday on the social media platform that she did not say how many of the more than four dozen people on board were from Mexico.

The Mexican consulate in Orlando is working to find out more and provide support, it said in a post

The Florida Highway Patrol arrested the driver of a pickup truck that collided with the farm workers bus. According to police, 41-year-old Bryan Maclean Howard faces eight counts of manslaughter while driving for Tuesday morning’s crash. No further details were released, including what substance allegedly affected Howard.

It was not immediately known whether Howard has an attorney who could comment on his behalf. Attempts to reach Howard were unsuccessful Tuesday. State records show he has previously been arrested on charges of driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident and possession of marijuana.

According to police, Howard was driving a 2001 Ford Ranger that swerved into the center line on State Road 40, a two-lane road that runs through horse farms. The truck rammed the side of the bus, sending it off the road around 6:40 a.m. He plowed through a fence, hit a tree and then rolled over. In addition to the eight dead, at least 40 were injured.

The accident occurred about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Orlando as workers were on their way to Cannon Farms in Dunnellon. The bus landed on its side, the windows were smashed and the emergency rear door and top hatch were open. The truck came to a stop on the side of the road, the airbag exploded and there was significant damage to the driver’s side.

Andres Sequera, mission and pastoral care director for AdventHealth Hospitals, told reporters that the injured workers who could be visited by chaplains were “in good spirits given what they have been through.”

“We have been able to provide support, presence and prayer when asked,” he said.

No one was answering the phone at Olvera Trucking on Tuesday afternoon. The company recently advertised for a temporary driver to take workers to the watermelon fields by bus and then operate the harvesting machines. The wage was $14.77 an hour.

A Labor Department document shows Olvera recently applied for 43 H-2A watermelon harvesting workers at Cannon Farms this month. The company again offered a base rate of $14.77 an hour and promised accommodation and transportation to and from the fields.

The H-2A program allows U.S. employers or agents who meet certain regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals into the country to fill temporary agricultural jobs. According to the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Florida farms employ more H-2A workers than any other state, about 50,000 per year.

“Thank you to everyone who expressed their condolences, help and prayers to the families and loved ones involved in the crash,” Cannon Farms posted on its Facebook page, adding that the family farm will remain closed until Wednesday become.

Cannon Farms grows peanuts and watermelons and ships them to grocery stores in the United States and Canada.

Federal statistics show that vehicle accidents were the leading cause of occupational deaths among farm workers in 2022, the most recent year available. They accounted for 81 of 171 deaths. It was not immediately known whether the bus had seat belts.

Authorities in several states are pushing for stricter regulations to keep farm workers, most of whom are migrants, safe.

The Labor Department announced new seat belt requirements for employer vehicles used by agricultural workers on temporary visas, among other worker protections that take effect June 28. The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association opposed it, calling the seat belt requirement “impractical.”

State law requires seat belts when transporting farm workers in smaller vehicles that weigh less than 10,000 pounds.

A GoFundMe campaign organized by the Farmworker Association of Florida to support accident victims and their families had raised about $20,000 of its $50,000 goal as of Tuesday evening.

“Farm workers are often forgotten, but it is important not to forget them, especially during such difficult times,” the post said.

Two groups advocating for farm workers issued statements calling for tougher laws to protect them from harm.

“It’s too easy to dismiss this as another accident,” said Asia Clermont, Florida, director of the League of United Latin American Citizens. “Florida must take every step possible to protect its essential workforce, who are people and the backbone of the state’s economy.”

Ty Joplin of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers said farmworker transportation laws are often not enforced.

“Although accidents will occur, protecting workers during transportation through mandatory and enforceable safety regulations such as seat belts and safety inspections can reduce the number of injuries and deaths,” he said.

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Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale.

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