8 dead after bus carrying farm workers hit by truck in Florida, truck driver charged with drunk driving

Eight people died and 40 others were hospitalized after a bus carrying farm workers collided with a pickup truck and rolled over early Tuesday morning in north central Florida, officials said.

The driver of the pickup, Bryan Maclean Howard, survived the crash and was later charged with eight counts of drunken driving and involuntary manslaughter, said David Kerner, executive director of the state Department of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle.

“Our condolences and prayers go out to the families of the deceased,” Kerner said in a statement. “Consistent with our duties, the Florida Highway Patrol will conduct both a thorough and comprehensive traffic accident and criminal investigation.”

The fatal collision occurred about 6:35 a.m. on a hilly and rain-slicked highway about 80 miles north of Orlando, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The bus, a 2010 International, was traveling west on State Road 40 when “for unknown reasons” a 2001 Ford Ranger “drove toward the center line” and the vehicles flipped each other, said FHP Lt. Pat Riordan told reporters.

The bus, which was carrying about 50 people, left the roadway, ran through a fence, hit a tree and overturned in a field, Riordan said.

Forty of the bus passengers were hospitalized, Riordan said. According to the Marion County Fire Department, which initially reported a total of 53 injuries, at least eight of them sustained life-threatening injuries.

Riordan warned there was a “high possibility” the death toll could rise as many of the injured were in “very serious condition”.

“We are currently conducting an extensive vehicular homicide investigation,” Riordan said.

The driver of the Ford pickup was also taken to the hospital with serious injuries, he said.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods told reporters that more than 30 ambulances were at the scene and described the victims as “hard-working people.” He suggested that rain and slippery road conditions may have been a factor in the accident.

Meanwhile, Dominique O’Connor of the Farmworker Association of Florida said they are trying to help local authorities assist the victims and their families, most of whom only speak Spanish and are not from the area.

“These workers are all here on H-2A work visas,” O’Connor said.

The H-2A program allows certain U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals into the country to fill temporary agricultural jobs, O’Connor said.

The Mexican consulate announced in Orlando X that emergency numbers be made available to obtain information about Mexican individuals or family members who may have been involved in the accident.

The workers were on their way to the family-run Cannon Farms in Dunnellon, Orlando NBC affiliate WESH reported, citing the FHP.

Cannon Farms announced on social media early Tuesday that it was “out of respect for the losses and injuries sustained in the Olvera Trucking Harvesting Corp. accident this morning.” “suffered”.

“Please join us in praying for the families and loved ones involved in this tragic accident,” Cannon Farms said. “We thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.”

Calls to Cannon Farms on Tuesday received a recorded message that read: “This is Cannon Farms. I just wanted to let everyone know that we remain closed due to a tragic accident. Please pray for the families of those involved and the losses of loved ones.

NBC News also reached out to Olvera Trucking.

The injured were transported by ambulance to several local hospitals.

Additionally, at the request of first responders, Marion County Public Schools used one of its buses to transport some of the victims to hospitals.

AdventHealth Ocala said they treated 16 patients, including 12 at AdventHealth Ocala’s main emergency department and four at AdventHealth Timber Ridge ER, Dr. Rodrigo Torres, chief medical officer of AdventHealth Ocala, in a statement.

Two HCA Florida Healthcare facilities in Ocala are also treating patients: seven in critical condition and two in stable condition at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and one stable at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.