A pickup truck and a bus that was carrying Latino farm workers collided on a hilly and rain-slicked rural road in Florida, killing eight and wounding 40 others. The two vehicles sideswiped each other, leading to the bus crashing while the pickup truck overturned.

David Kerner, executive director of the State Department of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle, stated that while the pickup truck was overturned, its driver, Bryan Maclean Howard, survived the wreck. However, he was soon charged with eight counts of driving under the influence-manslaughter.

"Our sympathies and prayers are with the families of the deceased," said Kerner in a statement. "Consistent with our duties, the Florida Highway Patrol will conduct both a thorough and exhaustive traffic crash and criminal investigation."

According to NBC News, the bus was going west on State Road 40 when "for unknown reasons" when a 2001 Ford Ranger "traveled toward the centerline," leading to the two vehicles sideswiping one another. The bus, which was carrying 50 people, barreled off the road before going through a fence. It then struck a tree before overturning.

Eight of the passengers were critically injured. They were among the 40 people hospitalized due to the Florida collision. Florida officials warned that there is a "high probability" that the death toll could rise as many of the Latino farm workers injured were "in very serious condition."

"At this point, we are conducting a massive traffic homicide investigation," FHP Lt. Pat Riordan told reporters. He also confirmed that the driver of the pickup truck was also sent to the hospital.

Latino Farm Workers Are Foreigners But Are in the Country Legally, Florida Official Confirms

"We're a very big agricultural county. So this time of year, we always have migrant workers that are in our county, that are on buses just like this.," commented Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods to CNN, adding, "Everything that I have been told at this point - they all have what they need to be here. There's no reason for me to be involved with these individuals. They're hard-working individuals, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with them being here."

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Meanwhile, Dominique O'Connor of the Farmworker Association of Florida revealed that they are trying to help local authorities aid the victims and their families, especially as many of them can only speak Spanish and are not from the area.

"These workers are all here on H-2A work visas," he confirmed, which means they are legally in the country. This is part of the H-2A program, which allows US employers to bring foreign nationals into the country to fill temporary agricultural jobs.

Latino Farm Workers Were Supposed to Harvest Watermelons When Fatal Florida Collision Happened

According to the Associated Press, the farm workers were supposed to be heading to Cannon Farms in Dunnellon when the crash occurred. They were harvesting watermelons at that moment, and the farm workers were about to continue the harvest.

Farm workers in Florida, one of the US's top fruit producers, are mostly migrants granted temporary working visas. The Mexican consulate in Orlando has announced that it would be helping any workers from the crash who were Mexican citizens.

Meanwhile, Cannon Farms issued a statement on Facebook, saying, "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., Please pray with us for the families and the loved ones involved in this tragic accident. We appreciate your understanding at this difficult time."

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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