OCALA, Fla–
A judge decided on Wednesday to hold without bond the man who was taken into custody and charged with eight counts of DUI manslaughter after he collided with a bus transporting farmworkers in Marion County.
Authorities claim that Bryan Maclean Howard was operating a Ford Ranger when the truck and a retired 2010 International School Bus, which was transporting about 53 farmworkers, collided, forcing the bus off a remote Florida road and onto an upturned surface.
The incident claimed the lives of eight individuals, left 38 injured, eight of whom were critically ill.
On Wednesday morning, Howard appeared in Marion County court for the first time. Because of the nature of the charges, he was not granted bond on any of the eight counts.
Until this case is pending, he is not permitted to drive or use any type of alcohol, restricted substance, or prescription pill without a prescription.
In addition, the prosecution stated that three days before to Tuesday’s tragic collision, Howard was involved in another auto accident.
According to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Pat Riordan, “there’s a high probability this may be beyond eight fatalities,” on Tuesday.
Following the collision, Howard was also sent to the hospital with severe injuries. According to arrest documents, Ocala native Howard was taken into custody in Marion County at 3:44 p.m.
The collision lends credence to a broader discussion concerning farmworker safety, specifically in relation to transportation. In 2022, the most recent year for which data was available, federal statistics revealed that crashes accounted for the majority of farmworker fatalities related to their jobs.
In addition to other worker protections, the Labor Department intends to mandate seatbelts be installed in company vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds that are transporting farmworkers on temporary visas as of June 28.