The Florida Highway Patrol reported that a bus carrying 53 people on State Road 40 between Ocala and Dunnellon, in Marion County, collided with a pickup truck at 6:30 AM local time for undetermined reasons, causing it to veer off the road and overturn.
The police say the bus was transporting “immigrant workers” to a watermelon farm. Eight people died at the scene of the accident, and another eight are in critical condition. An additional 37 people were taken to the hospital with non-fatal injuries.
Authorities anticipate additional deaths, said Lieutenant Patrick Riordan of the Florida Highway Patrol at a press conference, noting that some of the injured – including the driver of the Ford pickup truck – are in “very serious condition.”
“At this moment, we are conducting a massive traffic homicide investigation. We have a full team, and more, here on site,” Riordan said. “I can say it will likely take at least six months before we truly conclude what happened here today.”
When asked about the immigration status of the passengers, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said, “Everything I have been told so far – they all have what they need to be here.”
“We are a very large agricultural county,” Woods said. “So, at this time of year, we always have immigrant workers who are on buses like this.”
Source: CNN