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In a tragic incident in northern Florida, a bus carrying farm laborers collided with a pickup truck, resulting in the bus overturning. The collision, which occurred on Tuesday, led to the deaths of at least eight individuals and critical injuries to eight others, according to authorities.
The driver of the pickup truck, Bryan Maclean Howard, was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol troopers on eight counts of manslaughter while driving under the influence, as stated by Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Aside from the fatalities and critical injuries, another 37 bus passengers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to the hospital, as reported by Marion County Fire and Rescue.
The bus crashed through a fence and overturned after side-swiping a pickup truck and veering off the roadway, said Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson Steve Gaskins.
The farm laborers were on their way to pick melons at Cannon Farms in Dunnellon, a small farming community about an hour's drive south of Gainesville, when the bus overturned. Marion County Fire and Rescue units responded to the scene shortly after 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT).
Marion Fire Chief James Banta expressed condolences in a Facebook post, describing the incident as a "devastating bus wreck."
Cannon Farms, a commercial farm, announced on Facebook that it would be closed on Tuesday "out of respect for the losses and injuries suffered early this morning in the accident." The farm stated that the accident involved the Olvera Trucking Harvesting Corp, but clarification on whether Olvera owned the bus or hired the workers was not immediately available.
"We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time," Cannon Farms said, requesting prayers for the affected families and loved ones.