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8 Mexican day laborers die in crash in Florida; driver is arrested

The Florida Highway Patrol arrested the driver of a pickup truck that was crashed into a bus of agricultural workers on Tuesday morning, causing the death of eight Mexican workers, on charges of involuntary manslaughter for driving under the influence of a substance.

Bryan Maclean Howard, 41, faces eight counts of homicide by driving under the influence of a substance, the Florida Highway Patrol said in a statement. No further details were released, including what substance allegedly left Howard incapacitated.

Deputies said he was driving his 2001 Ford Ranger pickup when he crossed the center line on State Highway 40, a straight, but somewhat hilly, two-lane road that passes horse farms. The van crashed into the side of the bus, causing it to go off the road around 6:40 a.m. It crashed into a fence and a tree, and overturned. In addition to the eight dead, at least 40 other people were injured.

It was not immediately known if Howard has an attorney, and phone numbers for family members could not be found. According to state records, Howard has prior arrests for driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident and possession of marijuana.

The crash occurred in Marion County, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Orlando. The workers were headed to Cannon Farms in Dunnellon, which has been harvesting watermelons. The bus ended up on its side, with its windows broken and the rear emergency door and top hatch open. The truck came to a stop on the side of the road, with the airbags deployed and extensive damage to the driver’s side.

Federal statistics show that vehicle accidents were the leading cause of work-related deaths among agricultural workers in 2022, the latest year available. They represented 81 of the 171 fatalities. It was not immediately known if the bus had seat belts.

Authorities in several states have been pushing for stricter regulations for the safety of farm workers, who are mostly migrants. It is unknown if all the bus workers were migrants. The Mexican consulate in Orlando reported that it made help available to any of the workers who are from their country.

The Department of Labor announced new seat belt requirements for employer vehicles used by agricultural workers on temporary visas, among other labor protections that go into effect on June 28. The Florida Produce Association has objected, saying the seat belt requirement is “impractical.”

State law requires seat belts for transporting agricultural workers using smaller vehicles weighing less than 4.5 tons (10,000 pounds).

A tow truck removes the truck that hit the bus with more than 50 agricultural workers, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Ocala, Florida.  Driver Bryan Maclean Howard was charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter.

A tow truck removes the truck that hit the bus with more than 50 agricultural workers, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Ocala, Florida. Driver Bryan Maclean Howard was charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter.

“Today we will remain closed in respect to the losses and injuries suffered this morning in the accident that occurred at Olvera Trucking Harvesting Corp.,” Cannon Farms announced on its Facebook page. “Please pray with us for the families and loved ones involved in this tragic accident. We appreciate your understanding at this difficult time.”

Cannon Farms is described as a family business that has farmed its land for more than 100 years. The company now focuses on peanuts and watermelons, which it ships to supermarkets throughout the United States and Canada. It is located about 13 kilometers (8 miles) away from the accident site.

No one answered the phone at Olvera Trucking Tuesday afternoon. The company recently posted an ad requesting a temporary driver to take workers to the watermelon fields and then operate the picking equipment. The salary was $14.77 an hour.

A Department of Labor document shows Olvera recently applied for 43 temporary agricultural workers on H-2A visas to harvest watermelons at Cannon Farms this month. The company again offered a base wage of $14.77 an hour, with promises of housing and transportation to and from the fields.

This photo provided by the Marion County Fire Department shows the bus carrying 53 farmworkers that overturned Tuesday, May 14, 2024, near Ocala, Florida, north of Orlando.

This photo provided by the Marion County Fire Department shows the bus carrying 53 farmworkers that overturned Tuesday, May 14, 2024, near Ocala, Florida, north of Orlando.

The H-2A program allows U.S. employers or agents who meet certain regulatory requirements to bring foreigners into the country to fill temporary agricultural employment positions. Florida farms employ more H-2A workers than any other state, about 50,000 a year, according to the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association.

The Guatemalan government had initially indicated that citizens of its country were involved in the crash, but recanted hours later, noting that the report of an accident from its consulate in Chicago had been confused with the incident in Florida. Goldin López de Bonilla, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the Central American nation did not yet know if there were Guatemalans among the victims of the crash in Florida.

On Tuesday night, Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Bárcena confirmed in a message on the social network

Staff from the Mexican consulate in Orlando are on the scene to provide support, he added.

Andres Sequera, director of mission and ministry for AdventHealth hospitals, told reporters that injured workers who were able to be visited by chaplains “were in good spirits for what they’ve been through.”

“We were able to provide support, presence and prayer when asked,” he noted.

A GoFundMe campaign organized by the Florida Farm Workers Association to support crash victims and their families had raised about $5,000 of a $50,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon.

“Farmworkers tend to be forgotten, but it is important not to forget farmworkers, especially in such difficult times,” the publication noted.

Two groups advocating for farmworker rights issued statements calling for stricter laws to protect them from harm.

“It’s too easy to dismiss this as just another accident,” said Asia Clermont, Florida director of the League of United Latin American Citizens. “Florida must take every step possible to protect its essential workers, who are human beings and the backbone of the state’s economy.”

Ty Joplin of the Immokalee Workers Coalition said transportation laws for farmworkers are often not enforced.

“Although accidents will occur, protecting workers while they are transported with mandatory and enforceable safety measures, such as seat belts and safety inspections, can reduce injuries and deaths,” he said.

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