At least eight people died and eight others were critically injured after a bus carrying farm workers overturned Tuesday morning in northern Florida, officials said.
Florida Highway Patrol said a 2010 International bus and a 2001 Ford Ranger collided in a “sideswiped manner” around 6:35 a.m. in Marion County, Florida, causing the bus to veer off the highway through a fence before overturning.
The bus was carrying laborers working for a private company who were en route to a watermelon farm in Dunnellon, Florida, local officials confirmed to the Ocala Star Banner.
James Lucas, the public information officer for Marion County Fire Rescue, told Forbes of the 53 people onboard the bus, 45 were transported with injuries to nearby hospitals.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the bus did not belong to the county school system, though Marion County Public Schools said one of its buses was being used to transport victims, local news affiliate WESH reported.
The sheriff’s office said Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and the surrounding roads have been closed.
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The Florida Highway Patrol said it was not immediately clear what caused the two vehicles to collide.
Bus Carrying Laborers Crashes In West Marion County (Ocala StarBanner)