A man admitted to investigators that he had smoked marijuana oil and taken prescription drugs hours before his pickup truck collided with a bus, killing eight farmworkers in Florida, according to an arrest affidavit.
Bryan Maclean Howard, 41, faces eight counts of DUI manslaughter following the deadly crash on Tuesday, which claimed the lives of eight individuals and left dozens more injured. The affidavit states Howard was “non-responsive” after the accident and was identified as the driver of the 2001 Ford Ranger that struck the bus transporting workers to a watermelon farm early Tuesday.
Howard exhibited slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes, the affidavit notes. He subsequently failed a field sobriety test and was taken into custody, authorities reported.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador revealed on Wednesday that the bus was carrying 44 Mexican immigrants with temporary work visas, employed by a Mexican American businessman. Civil rights advocates have urged Florida to safeguard its essential labor force in light of the crash, which has highlighted the transportation hazards farmworkers face nationwide.
“These workers are the ones who put food on our tables and sustain the state’s and our nation’s economy,” stated Domingo Garcia, President of the League of United Latin American Citizens. “It is too easy to dismiss this as just another accident. Florida must take every possible measure to safeguard its essential workers, who are human beings and the backbone of the state’s economy.”
Marijuana oil and prescription medications
The affidavit details Howard’s account to authorities during an interview at AdventHealth Ocala Hospital, where he was treated following the crash. According to the summary, Howard informed Florida Highway Patrol troopers that the night before the incident, he had smoked marijuana oil while hanging out with a friend.
Howard also reported taking three prescribed medications—Klonopin, Lyrica, and Clonidine—before going to bed between 11:30 p.m. and midnight. The affidavit further states that Howard said he woke up around 5 a.m. Tuesday and left his parents’ home near Dunnellon, Florida.
He mentioned that he got into his pickup truck, which he owns, and was heading to a methadone clinic in Ocala, where he regularly goes for a back condition. Howard claimed he does not remember how the crash happened.
Three days before the fatal accident, Howard said he had been driving his mother’s vehicle when he crashed into a tree while trying to avoid an animal. The affidavit does not specify if Howard was arrested in that incident or where it took place.
Marion County records show that Howard has been cited for various traffic-related offenses between 2004 and 2019. These offenses include failure to wear a seatbelt, driving on a suspended or expired license, running a red light, careless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage. Additionally, he has been convicted of possessing drug paraphernalia and grand theft.
Judge denies bus driver bail
During his court appearance on Wednesday, Howard informed the judge that he has no assets and only $700 in the bank. He added that he has no dependents and has been self-employed as a painter and drywall installer for the past seven or eight months.
The judge denied bail for Howard, citing his criminal history, the number of victims in the crash, and the likelihood of additional charges.
The laborers on the bus were employed by a private company and were en route to Cannon Farms in Dunnellon, Florida, about 20 miles from Ocala, when the crash occurred. The company owner was also on the bus and was transported to a hospital. The bus was a 2010 International Bus, according to highway patrol.
Officials stated that 53 people were on board the bus at the time of the crash. Eight individuals were critically injured, ten sustained serious injuries, and at least 25 had minor injuries.
Florida crash highlights roadway dangers
The tragic crash on Tuesday is the latest in a series of incidents claiming the lives of farmworkers in the U.S. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that transportation accidents were the leading cause of death for farmworkers in 2021.
The National Center for Farmworker Health estimates there are approximately 2.9 million agricultural workers in the U.S., with 70% being immigrants. About 63% of these workers are from Mexico.
Federal officials have long warned about the dangers of drunk driving, which kills one person every 45 minutes, according to the CDC. Nearly one-third of all traffic deaths in the U.S. involve drunk drivers, the agency found.
Drug-impaired driving has also become a public safety concern, though there is less data available on its impact compared to alcohol-impaired driving.
