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 suspicion of DUI manslaughter.
Brian McLean Howard, 41, is charged with eight counts of DUI manslaughter, FHP said in a statement. No further details were released, including what substance caused Howard's disability.
According to troopers, the suspect was driving a 2001 Ford Ranger when he crossed the center line on State Route 40. State Route 40 is a straight but slightly hilly two-lane road that passes through horse ranches. Around 6:40 a.m., a truck skidded the bus, causing it to veer off the road, crash through a fence, hit a tree and overturn. Eight people were killed and at least 40 injured.
It was not immediately known whether Howard had an attorney, and phone numbers for his family could not be found. Howard has previously been arrested on charges including driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident and possession of marijuana, according to state records.
The accident occurred in Marion County, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Orlando. The workers were heading to Cannon Farm in Dunnellon, where they were harvesting watermelons. The bus was turned on its side with the windows broken and the emergency rear door and top hatch open. The truck stopped on the shoulder of the road, its airbag inflated, and the driver's side was severely damaged.
According to federal statistics, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of work-related deaths among farm workers in 2022, the most recent year available. They accounted for 81 of the 171 deaths. It is unclear at this time whether seatbelts were worn on the bus.
Officials in several states are pushing for tighter regulations to ensure the safety of farmworkers, who are overwhelmingly immigrants. It is unclear whether all the workers on the bus were immigrants. The Mexican Consulate General in Orlando said it was providing assistance to workers from the country.
The Department of Labor announced new seat belt requirements for employment vehicles used by farm workers on temporary visas, among other worker protection measures that will take effect on June 28. The Florida Produce Association opposes the seat belt requirement, calling it “unrealistic.”
Under state law, Seat belts for transporting farm workers Use a small vehicle weighing less than 10,000 pounds.
Cannon Farms announced on its Facebook page, “We will be closed today out of respect for the loss and injuries sustained in the accident that occurred at Olvera Truck Harvesting Corporation early this morning.” “Please join us in praying for the families and loved ones involved in this tragic accident. We ask for your understanding during this difficult time.”
Cannon Farms describes itself as a family-owned and operated business that has been farming the land for over 100 years. The company is currently focused on peanuts and watermelons, which it sends to grocery stores in the United States and Canada. It is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from the crash site.
No one answered the phone at Olvera Trucking Co. Tuesday afternoon. The company recently advertised for temporary drivers to shuttle employees to watermelon fields and then operate harvesting equipment. The salary was $14.77 per hour.
Olvera recently applied for 43 H-2A workers to harvest watermelons at Cannon Farm this month, according to Department of Labor documents. The company again offered a base rate of $14.77 an hour and promised transportation to and from the home and fields.
The H-2A program allows U.S. employers or agencies to: Meet specific regulatory requirements Bringing foreigners into the country to fill temporary agricultural jobs. Florida farms employ more H-2A workers than any other state, about 50,000 annually, according to the Florida Produce Association.
Andres Sequera, director of missions and ministry at AdventHealth Hospital, told reporters that the injured workers who may be visited by chaplains were “in good spirits considering what they've been through.” he said.
“We were able to provide support, presence and prayers when asked,” he said.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by the Florida Farm Workers Association to support accident victims and their families had raised about $5,000 of its $50,000 goal by Tuesday evening.
“Farmworkers are often forgotten, but it's important that we don't forget them, especially during difficult times like these,” the post said.
Two groups defending farmworkers have issued statements calling for stricter laws to protect them from harm.
“It's too easy to dismiss this as just an accident,” said Asia Clermont, Florida state director for the League of Latin American Citizens. “Florida must do everything possible to protect essential workers who are human beings and the backbone of our state’s economy.”
Ty Joplin of the Immokalee Workers Federation said transportation laws for farm workers are often not enforced.
“Accidents will happen, but protecting workers during transport with mandatory and enforceable safety regulations such as seat belts and safety checks can reduce injuries and deaths,” he said. .
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Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale.
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This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Andres Sequera's last name and the city of Dunnellon.
