Multiple People Killed As Farmworkers' Bus Overturns In Florida

At least eight people were killed and dozens of others injured after a bus carrying farmworkers crashed in central Florida on Tuesday (May 14) morning. The Florida Highway Patrol said that the bus was transporting more than 50 workers when it collided with a Ford Ranger on State Road 40 in Marion County.

Officials said that the pickup truck veered onto the wrong side of the road and sideswiped the bus, causing it to spin off the roadway. The bus crashed through a fence and hit a tree before overturning. 

Over 30 ambulances were called to the scene to transport the injured migrant workers to the hospital with various injuries. 

“It is with heavy hearts that we confirm the loss of eight lives,” Marion County Fire Chief James Banta said. “I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the 35 MCFR units that promptly responded to the emergency. I also want to thank our partners at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management, HCA Ocala, AdventHealth Ocala, and the Marion County Public School system for their invaluable assistance in transporting 45 patients to local hospitals. Their coordinated efforts were crucial in managing this crisis.”