DUNNELLON, Florida – A tragic incident occurred on State Road 40 near the Citrus and Marion county line, where a bus carrying farm workers overturned after a collision, resulting in eight fatalities and eight individuals sustaining critical injuries, according to authorities.
The devastating crash took place early Tuesday morning, around 6:30 a.m., on State Road 40 just east of U.S. Highway 41. Reports from Marion County Fire Rescue indicated that the location of the incident was near the boundary between Citrus and Marion counties.
The passengers on the bus, totaling 53 individuals, were laborers en route to a watermelon farm, employed by a private company. An additional 37 people suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening, as confirmed by fire rescue officials.
Florida Highway Patrol disclosed that the 2010 International Bus carrying the farm workers collided with a 2001 Ford Ranger truck, causing the bus to veer off the road, crash through a fence, and overturn, resulting in a tragic outcome.
Aerial images captured by Sky 10 displayed the overturned white bus lying on its side, surrounded by damaged fencing and trees in the vicinity. Authorities clarified that the bus involved in the accident was not a school bus, as emphasized by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
In the aftermath of the crash, State Road 40 was closed, prompting drivers to seek alternative routes, particularly for travel between Citrus and Marion counties. Recommendations include taking U.S. Highway 41 north to west County Road 328 for eastbound traffic on State Road 40, and vice versa for westbound traffic.
The Florida Highway Patrol has initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances leading up to the tragic collision, in an effort to understand and prevent similar incidents in the future.