FHP: Man charged in bus crash that killed farmworkers smoked marijuana oil the previous night
The Florida Highway Patrol on Wednesday released the arrest affidavit for Bryan Mclean Howard, who is charged with eight counts of DUI-manslaughter after his pickup truck was involved in the Tuesday bus crash that killed eight farmworkers off State Road 40 West in west Marion County.
The affidavit summarizes what Howard told troopers when they interviewed him at Adventhealth Ocala Hospital, where Howard had been taken for treatment after the crash. According to that summary, Howard told troopers that the night before the crash, he was hanging out with a friend and smoked marijuana oil.
He also said he took three prescribed medications — Klonopin, Lyrica and Clonidine — before going to bed between 11:30 p.m. and midnight.
What does Bryan Mclean Howard say about the day of the crash?
According to the affidavit, Howard said he woke up about 5 a.m. Tuesday and left his parents' residence outside of Dunnellon.
He said he got into the pickup, which he owns, and was on his way to a methadone clinic in Ocala. Howard said he goes to the clinic regularly for a back condition.
He told troopers he doesn't remember how the crash occurred. He said he wasn't trying to pass anyone and no one tried to cut him off.
What does the FHP say about Bryan Mclean Howard's behavior after the crash?
The affidavit says Howard was "nonresponsive" at the crash scene. His speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot and watery.
Howard took and failed a field sobriety exercise given to him at the hospital, troopers said. He was arrested and taken to the county jail.
At the jail, a breath test registered his blood-alcohol content as 0.00%. However, the affidavit also notes that Howard voluntarily provided a blood sample at the hospital for analyzing.
How did the bus crash happen?
According to the FHP, Howard was driving his pickup truck east on SR 40 about 6:40 a.m. Tuesday and sideswiped the bus, which was westbound on the same road. The bus hit a fence and two trees and then overturned.
Austin L. Miller contributed to this story
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Bus crash in Florida: Truck's driver had smoked marijuana oil
