Crash in Marion County leaves 8 seriously injured and 37 with non-life-threatening injuries
Florida authorities said eight people were killed and eight others suffered critical injuries after a bus carrying dozens of workers overturned Tuesday morning in Marion County, local media reported. WCJB.
The outlet also reported that 53 workers were on the bus on State Road 40 between Ocala and Dunnellon around 6:30 a.m. before it was involved in a head-on collision with a pickup truck.
According to police, the people aboard the bus were “immigrant workers” who were headed to a watermelon farm.
Another 37 people suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
About 40 people were taken to hospitals, the highway patrol said in a statement, and the driver of the Ford Ranger was hospitalized for serious injuries.
The highway patrol said the death toll could increase due to the conditions of the bus occupants who were seriously injured, according to the USA Today report.
Sheriff Billy Woods said the people on the bus were hardworking people and the accident was a tragedy.
“My heart goes out to them,” Woods said, adding that his agency is helping investigators, especially with Spanish translation. Authorities are trying to notify the victims' families.
The individuals worked for a private company and were headed to Cannon Farms in Dunnellon, Florida. The owner of the company was also among the injured who were taken to hospital.
