Farm worker bus accident in Florida: 8 dead, dozens injured and truck driver arrested

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested the driver of a pickup truck that crashed into a farm worker bus early Tuesday, killing eight people, on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol – manslaughter.

Bryan Maclean Howard faces eight counts of involuntary manslaughter under the influence of alcohol, the FHP said in a statement. No further details were released, including what substance allegedly affected Howard.

Troopers said he was driving a 2001 Ford Ranger when it swerved into the center line on State Road 40, a straight but slightly hilly 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 crashed through a fence and into a tree before tipping over. In addition to the eight dead, at least 40 were injured.

It was not immediately known whether Howard has an attorney.

The accident occurred in Marion County, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Orlando. The workers were on their way to Cannon Farms in Dunellon, where watermelons were being harvested. 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.

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. It is not known whether all of the workers on the bus were migrants. The Mexican consulate in Orlando said it was providing assistance to all workers from its country.

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 Safety belts for transporting agricultural workers Use of smaller vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds.

“In consideration of the losses and injuries we sustained in the Olvera Trucking Harvesting Corp. accident this morning. “We will remain closed today,” Cannon Farms announced on its Facebook page. “Please join us in praying for the families and loved ones involved in this tragic accident. We thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.”

Cannon Farms describes itself as a family business that has been farming its land for more than 100 years. The company now focuses on peanuts and watermelons, which it ships to grocery stores in the U.S. and Canada. It is about 13 kilometers from the crash site.

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 Bringing foreigners 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.

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.

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.