Tragedy Unfolds as Bus Carrying Farmworkers Overturns, Claiming 8 Lives and Leaving Dozens Injured in Florida.
Tragedy struck on a Florida highway as a bus ferrying numerous workers to a farm met with a fatal accident, claiming the lives of at least eight individuals while leaving eight more in critical condition, according to authorities.
The incident unfolded on State Route 40 during the early hours of Tuesday as the bus, carrying 53 laborers en route to a watermelon farm, was on its westward journey. A Ford Ranger traveling in the opposite direction reportedly veered into the westbound lane, setting the stage for a devastating collision.
Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing moment when the two vehicles made contact in a sideswipe manner, sending the bus careening off the road. The bus then plowed into a fence and two trees before overturning, as per statements from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Aside from the fatalities and critically injured, an additional ten occupants sustained severe injuries, while approximately 25 others suffered minor wounds. Emergency services rushed to the scene, with around 40 individuals being transported to various hospitals for treatment.
The driver of the pickup truck involved in the collision was also hospitalized in serious condition, adding to the gravity of the situation. Authorities expressed concerns that the death toll might rise given the critical condition of several bus occupants.
Sheriff Billy Woods expressed profound sympathy for the hard-working individuals affected by the tragic bus crash. “My heart goes out to them,” he stated, highlighting his agency’s active involvement in aiding investigators, particularly in facilitating Spanish language translation for seamless communication. Efforts are underway to notify the families of the victims, with some of the workers identified as Mexican nationals, as confirmed by Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Bárcena.
The laborers, employed by a private company, were en route to Cannon Farms in Dunnellon, Florida, when the accident occurred early in the morning. Among them was the owner of the company, who was also injured and hospitalized. The bus involved was a 2010 International Bus, according to highway patrol reports. Consequently, a section of the highway in Marion County had to be temporarily closed, as announced by the sheriff’s office via social media.
This tragic incident sheds light on a broader issue concerning the safety of farmworkers in transit. Transportation accidents, as revealed by statistics from the Bureau of Labor and the CDC, rank as the primary cause of death for farmworkers. These accidents encompass various scenarios, from roadway crashes to tractor overturns. Earlier this year, California witnessed a devastating collision that claimed the lives of eight farmworkers due to a lack of seatbelt usage.
Reflecting on past incidents, a similar crash in Florida back in 2016 underscored significant safety lapses in the transportation of farmworkers. Four lives were lost in that accident, attributed to a bus driver’s failure to stop at an intersection, likely due to fatigue from strenuous agricultural activities. This incident highlights the pressing need for enhanced safety regulations and measures to safeguard the lives of farmworkers during transit.
