8 dead, dozens hospitalized after migrant work bus crashes in Florida highway: officials
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A bus crash killed eight people and injured dozens of others on a highway in Marion County Tuesday morning, according to authorities.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash happened on West Highway 40 just west of Southwest 148 Court at 6:35 a.m.
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Troopers said a 2010 International bus, which carried 53 farm workers, and a Ford Ranger truck sideswiped each other — causing the bus to swerve off the road.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said the workers were migrants who were hired to do agricultural work in Florida. At this time, Woods said he believed the migrants were in the country legally.
“They’re hard-working individuals,” he said. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with them being here.”
The bus then crashed into a fence and flipped, killing eight people. The FHP said about 40 people were hospitalized while Marion County Fire Rescue said 38 people were hospitalized, eight of them in critical condition.
In this photo, first responders worked to save a victim of a Florida bus crash that killed eight people and hospitalized 38 others. (Credit: Marion County Fire Rescue) (WFLA) (WFLA) (WFLA) (WFLA)
“Some of those are also in very serious condition, so there’s high probability this may be beyond eight fatalities,” said Lt. Pat Riordan, public affairs officer for the Florida Highway Patrol. “The driver of the Ford pickup was also transported to the hospital with serious injuries.”
Woods said over 30 ambulances were on the scene to help get the victims out of the crash scene.
A spokesperson for Marion County Public Schools also told 8 On Your Side that the district sent a school bus to the scene to help transport patients to get treatment.
AdventHealth Ocala said it is treating 12 patients from the crash at the main emergency department at AdventHealth Ocala and four others at AdventHealth Timber Ridge.
Andres Sequera, director of mission and ministry for AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Dade City, said his Spanish-speaking chaplains went to the Marion County facilities to help staff members communicate with the large number of migrants.
According to Sequera, most of the patients taken to AdventHealth have been transported or discharged.
“We saw a couple of them at HCA across the street, and you know, as I said, some of them are still a little medicated but able to respond to our offer for support, very glad to be able to pray with us,” he said.
HCA Healthcare said nine patients, seven of them in critical condition, were being treated at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. Another stable patient was treated at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.
Riordan said the crash is being investigated as a traffic homicide, but it could take six months for the FHP to complete it. The bus is also being inspected at this time.
Cannon Farms in Dunnellon posted on Facebook that it would be closed due to the crash.
“We will be closed today out of respect to the losses and injuries endured early this morning in the accident that took place to the Olvera Trucking Harvesting Corp,” the post stated. “Please pray with us for the families and the loved ones involved in this tragic accident. We appreciate your understanding at this difficult time.”
As of this report, SR-40 is closed from Southwest 180th Avenue Road to Southwest 140th Avenue, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Eastbound drivers on SR-40 are advised to take US-41 northbound to West County Road 328 back. They should then head east to get back on SR-40.
Westbound drivers should do the opposite, taking West County Road 328 west to US-41, then head south back to SR-40.
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