Eight people were killed and 40 hospitalized after a bus carrying farm workers crashed and overturned in north-central Florida early Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The accident involved an international school bus that was decommissioned in 2010. The vehicle, transporting farm workers and a 2001 Ford Ranger truck, was deployed at 6:35 a.m. on State Route 40 500 feet west of SW 148 Court, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash site is approximately 72 miles south of Gainesville.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Pat Riordan told reporters Tuesday afternoon that the bus was traveling west and the Ford truck was traveling east when the Ford “for unknown reasons” drove toward the center line. The vehicle then skidded toward the other vehicle.
After the collision, the bus carrying about 50 people veered off the road, crashed through a fence, hit a tree and overturned, Riordan said.
A total of 40 people are hospitalized, Riordan said. Earlier Tuesday, Marion County Fire Rescue announced that eight people hospitalized in the incident had serious injuries, for a total of 53 patients, according to MCFR.
The driver of the Ford pickup truck was also taken to the hospital with serious injuries, FHP said. Mr Riordan said some of those hospitalized were in “very serious condition” and the death toll was “likely” to rise.
“At this time, we are conducting a large-scale traffic homicide investigation,” Riordan said. It is not clear what caused the two vehicles to initially collide.
AdventHealth Ocala is treating 16 patients, 12 in AdventHealth Ocala’s chief emergency department and four in AdventHealth Timber Ridge ER, AdventHealth Ocala’s chief medical officer said. said Dr. Rodrigo Torres in a statement.
Some of those involved in the accident were taken to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital.
The workers headed to Cannon Farm in Dunnellon, Orlando’s NBC affiliate WESH reported, citing FHP.
Cannon Farms announced on social media early Tuesday that it would be closing its doors “in honor of the loss and injury suffered in the Olvera Truck Harvesting Corporation accident early this morning.”
“Please join us in praying for the families and loved ones involved in this tragic accident,” Cannon Farms said in a statement. “Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.”
When I called Cannon Farms on Tuesday, a recorded message said, “This is Cannon Farms. We wanted to let you all know that we are closing due to a tragic accident.The families of those involved. We pray for the victims of the loss of a loved one. ”
NBC News has reached out to Olvera Trucks.
Marion County Public Schools said one school bus was not involved in the crash, but the victim was taken to a hospital at the request of first responders.
SR-40 will be shut down in both directions during the investigation.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods told reporters there were more than 30 ambulances at the scene this morning.
He said the buses were carrying migrant workers, whom he described as “hard-working people.”
Although it was raining during the press conference, Woods said the weather would be investigated as a potential factor in the accident.
Riordan noted that the next step for authorities would be to notify next of kin, which could be difficult given that some of the victims may have come from outside the area.
This was announced by the Mexican Consulate General in Orlando. X An emergency telephone number has been made public to obtain information about Mexican individuals and families who may have been involved in the accident.
This is a developing story. Please come back for the latest information.
