8 farmworkers on bus killed in west Marion crash; other driver charged with DUI-manslaughter

A bus carrying farmworkers to a job site crashed and overturned Tuesday morning off State Road 40 West in west Marion County. Eight people died, eight more were critically injured, and the remaining 37 onboard were taken to area hospitals for observation or treatment of minor injuries, according to the Florida Highway Patrol and Marion County Fire Rescue.

Later Tuesday, FHP announced that the other driver involved in the crash had been arrested and held on eight counts of DUI-manslaughter.

SR 40 West was closed for hours between U.S. 41 and County Road 328 as first responders and investigators worked at the scene.

The farmworkers were heading to Cannon Farms in Dunnellon to pick watermelons, officials said. On its Facebook page, Cannon Farms announced that it would be closed Tuesday out of respect for the crash victims. The post said the company involved was Olvera Trucking Harvesting Corp., which is based in Immokalee.

An advocacy group called the deaths "very tragic and needless" and said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is "actively monitoring the situation."

Eight is the highest number of fatalities in one Marion County vehicle crash in recent memory. In 2008, five young men were killed in a crash at the Jumbolair private airstrip north of Ocala.

'My heart goes out to them'

"My heart goes out to them," Sheriff Billy Woods said Tuesday in reference to the victims and their families.

Woods spoke at a news conference at the crash scene. He said his agency is assisting investigators, especially with Spanish language translation. Officials are trying to notify the victims' families.

The sheriff said the people on the bus are hard working individuals and the crash was a tragedy.

This is how the crash happened

According to the FHP, the crash happened about 6:35 a.m. Tuesday on SR 40 West approximately 500 feet west of Southwest 148th Court.

FHP said the 2010 International bus was westbound when it was sideswiped by a 2001 Ford Ranger that was eastbound but for some reason veered into the westbound lane. The bus ran onto the south shoulder, struck a board fence and two trees, and then overturned.

The pickup driver was hospitalized in serious condition, FHP reported on Tuesday. Later in the day, FHP issued a statement identifying the driver as Bryan Maclean Howard and noting that he had been arrested on eight counts of DUI-manslaughter.

Additional details about the arrest were not provided. FHP said only that it will "conduct both a thorough and exhaustive traffic crash and criminal investigation."

'We're so sorry'

Social media was flooded with comments about the crash all day Tuesday. Some people said they saw the crash scene as they were taking their kids to school.

"We're so sorry. We saw the EMS coming back from taking my son to West Port (High School.) It was horrific. I'm praying for everyone involved," one woman wrote on Facebook.

More crash coverage: The Florida bus crash that killed 8 was not a school bus. Here's what we know

"Saw this on the news today from Minnesota and so grieved about it," another woman wrote. "These people work hard harvesting our food on these farms. I pray for them and their families."

'We're heartbroken'

Julie Taylor, executive director of the National Farm Worker Ministry, was contacted by the Star Banner.

"We're heartbroken," she said.

More crash coverage: See videos and photos from the Florida bus crash that killed 8 people

The organization was formed in 1971 and fights for better working and living conditions for farmworkers.

She said when farmworkers are killed or injured in these kinds of situations, her organization worries about several things. For example, many farmworkers don't have health insurance. Also, her agency worries about the families: When the injured people don't work, the families often are left without income. How will the families cope?

Advocacy group: Deaths were 'very tragic and needless'

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which bills itself as the nation's largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization, issued a statement on Tuesday expressing "profound sorrow" and calling the deaths "very tragic and needless."

"They are the ones who put the food on our tables and nourish the state and our country," said Asia Clermont, Florida LULAC state director, in the statement. "It is too easy to dismiss this as just another accident. Florida must take every possible step to protect its essential workers, who are human beings and the backbone of the state's economy. We ask all Americans to join us in prayer and support for the recovery of the injured and help for the loved ones of those we've lost."

The group said that the bus passengers "were farmworkers en route to a farm in the area, underscoring the critical role these individuals play in sustaining the agricultural sector and feeding our communities."

It further noted that "officials have confirmed that the workers had the necessary documentation to be employed in Florida."

"Our hearts go out to the families of those who have been killed," Clermont said in the statement. "I know what it feels like to experience such a loss, especially when far away from home. As immigrants, we can feel even more vulnerable in times of crisis.

"Florida LULAC wants the affected families to know that we're standing behind our fellow workers and are here to support them in any way we can," she continued. "They definitely need our assistance, whatever that might be. Also, we will be more than happy to cooperate with the various agencies working on finding out what happened and providing aid to the victims."

The group said that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is "actively monitoring the situation."

Praise for the cooperation on scene

Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta praised the interagency cooperation. He said 35 units from his agency alone responded, working the scene with FHP and other first responders.

“I also want to thank our partners at the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Emergency Management, HCA Ocala, AdventHealth Ocala, and the Marion County Public School system for their invaluable assistance in transporting 45 patients to local hospitals. Their coordinated efforts were crucial in managing this crisis,” Banta said in an agency Facebook post.

The Professional Firefighters of Marion County and the International Association of Fire Fighters have reached out to the crews members who responded to the scene, offering assistance during this time.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Bus transporting farmworkers crashes in west Marion; eight people killed