Mexico confirms the death of 8 Mexican workers in a bus rollover in Florida

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE, Chancellery) of Mexico, Alicia Bárcenaconfirmed this Tuesday night the death of eight Mexican agricultural workers, after the rollover of a bus carrying 53 people in Marion County, in Florida, U.S.

“With regret, I confirm the death of 8 agricultural workers due to an accident in Florida; Mexicans, men, with H-2A visa”Bárcena highlighted in a message on the social network X.

Scene of an accident involving two vehicles in which 8 people died and another 38 were taken to hospitals in the Ocala region, near Dunellon, Florida, USA, May 14, 2024. EFE/EPA/Miguel J. Rodríguez Carrillo

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“Of 44 accident victims, 7 are hospitalized. Our consul Juan Sabines and the SRE “will give full support to our compatriots and their families”, he added.

Early reports indicated that at least eight people died and more than 40 were hospitalized this Tuesday in Florida after an accident involving a bus carrying agricultural workers, presumably immigrants, in the county Marion (Florida), as reported by State Highway Patrol.

About 53 workers were traveling in a 2010 bus along the main highway in north Florida’s Marion County toward the farm. Cannon Farmsspecialized in growing watermelons.

According to Highway Patrol (FHP, in English) FloridaThe accident occurred shortly before 6:40 a.m. local time (10:40 GMT) near Ocalanorth of coverwhen the bus collided sideways with a truck coming from the opposite lane.

The impact sent the bus off the road, through a fence and onto its side, authorities said.

channel images Fox They showed the bus on its side next to a wooden fence and trees, with considerable damage to the chassis as well as the truck.

O PSF confirmed the deaths of eight people and reported that around 40 more were transferred to medical centers.

Initially it was reported that the driver from the truck was taken to hospital in serious condition.

Authorities noted that most of the agricultural workers traveling on the bus were migrants. Meanwhile, the Government of Mexico confirmed that there were compatriots within the victims.

Later, the Florida Highway Patrol arrested the driver of the pickup truck that crashed into the farm workers’ bus on charges of manslaughter and drunk driving.

Bryan Maclean Howardwho drove a truck ford who sideswiped the bus carrying 53 farm workers, some of them Mexicans, was charged with eight counts of involuntary homicideinformed the PSF in a statement.

Source: Elcomercio