Eight people were killed and dozens more wounded when a bus crashed Tuesday morning in central Florida.
The driver who hit the bus and caused the subsequent crash was charged with DUI.
Officials said 53 people were onboard a 2010 International bus when it was sideswiped by a 2001 Ford Ranger pickup on Florida State Road 40 around 6:30 a.m.
The pickup driver was identified as 40-year-old Bryan Maclean Howard, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Cops said Howard crossed over the center line and hit the bus.
He was later charged with eight counts of DUI-manslaughter.
“Post collision, the bus traveled off the roadway through a fence and then overturned,” Florida Highway Patrol told Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV.
The bus was carrying migrant workers to their jobs on a watermelon farm in Dunnellon, according to the Ocala Star-Banner. They were employed by Cannon Farms.
“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,” Cannon Farms wrote on Facebook. “Please pray with us for the families and the loved ones involved in this tragic accident.”
In addition to the eight people killed, eight others were critically injured, the Star-Banner reported. The other 37 people on the bus were also transported to a local hospital with minor or no injuries, according to Gainesville ABC affiliate WCJB.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods shut down rumors that a school bus was involved in the crash. However, a Marion County School Bus was used to transport several victims to the hospital, according to Orlando NBC affiliate WESH.
None of the victims have been publicly identified.
Howard was also injured and hospitalized, authorities said.
A large portion of Florida State Road 40 between Ocala and Dunnellon, about 70 miles northwest of Orlando, was closed Tuesday as authorities managed the crash scene.
With News Wire Services
