New video, documents released in deadly migrant farmer bus crash

MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Newly released body camera footage is providing a glimpse of the law enforcement response to a deadly migrant farmer bus crash in Ocala in May.

Troopers said an alleged drunken driver sideswiped a bus transporting 53 migrant farmers while on their way to work, leaving eight dead and dozens of others injured.

The Ocala community is still reeling after the crash on May 14.

“As of right now we 53 and 11 critical patients,” said a first responder.

New footage shows the frantic moments as they flooded the scene.

Florida Highway Patrol said Bryan Howard, 41, crossed the road and sideswiped the bus which caused it to go through a fence, hit a tree and overturn.

The video shows debris and people scattered across the field, while other victims were trapped inside the bus.

“There’s probably still at least 10-12 more people stuck inside,” a first responder said.

Paramedics quickly went from patient to patient, while family members began to arrive.

A man speaking Spanish told a deputy his brother could possibly still be alive. The nearly 200-pages of documents include the medical examiner’s autopsy reports detailing the graphic nature on how the eight people died. Blunt force trauma is listed for each victim.

“We are conducting a massive traffic homicide investigation,” said Lt. Pat Riordan, Florida Highway Patrol. “We have a full team and then some here on the scene. This will be a very long and lengthy, thorough investigation. We do not get in a hurry to conclude that happened until we have all the facts.”

Troopers said it could be another four months at least until they conclude the investigation.

According to the arrest report, Howard told troopers he was on his way to a methadone clinic and does not remember how the crash happened.

Howard has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of DUI manslaughter and 11 counts of DUI with serious bodily injury. The case is headed to trial with jury selection set to begin in October. This will take place in a courtroom in Marion County.

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