Victim of the fatal bus accident in Marion County remembered; "Eight innocent lives were lost"

Dunnellon, Florida (WCJB) – It has been a year since the deadly bus drop, in which eight dead and dozens were injured. A doctor says this is one of the largest mass victims events on which he worked.

A year ago, 53 people were on a bus and made their way to Cannon Farms in Dunnellon.

“It came as a mass victim,” said Dr. Darwin Ang with the medical director of the trauma at HCA Ocala.

All hands on deck were around HCA Ocala on May 14, 2024.

The bus was wearing migrant workers around 6:30 a.m. on State Road 40.

RELATED: 8 dead, dozens injured in the Marion County Farm Worker Bus, arrested truck drivers arrested

“We trained for it. You know, so everyone now knows what their roles are, and everyone lasered a kind of what they have to do,” said Dr.

According to Bryan Howard, the bus in Florida Highway Patrol is wiped into the bus, which led to it to refuse and crash from the street.

“We had other accidents, but 20 are probably high. Ang with.

More than half of these 20 patients were in a critical condition.

“So it was a long, painful process. I insist that they were all young workers, but many of them can no longer work due to the injuries, blows and permanent damage,” said Consul of Mexico Juan Sabines Guerrero.

Eight of the dozens of injuries died, all young men.

These include: Jose Acosta, Everardo Hernandez, Santiago Jesus, Isias Pascal, Manuel Rios, Alfredo Sanchez, Oscar Temoxtle-Temoxtle and Cristian Villeda.

RELATED: Vigil for the 8 victims at the crash location of the Marion County Bus crash

The Mexican consulate helped the victim families.

“So, do not let this tragedy be forgotten, that is what we ask because eight innocent life has been lost, hard -working people who even came here with a visa to meet a person who abused drugs and was very wrong to take their lives,” said Guerrero.

A year later, the consul experienced a very intensive year of grief.

“So we keep an eye on them and hope that at some point in this state and in the country a stronger legislation will be said goodbye to drivers that abuse drugs, and that the vehicles that transport workers have at least a seat belt because this bus was not,” said Guerrero.

Dr. Ang says it is a day when he will never forget and he has a message to those who survived.

“For these family members, we are grateful for the opportunity to take care of them, and we are really happy that they are doing really well,” said Dr. Ang.

The Farmworkers Association of Florida sent us this explanation:

A year ago, a tragic and fatal bus accident in which workers in the USA with a work visa for the harvest of watermelons in central florida were involved, the attention of people all over the state and even all over the country. Eight workers were killed in the accident. Others were injured and others suffered physical and mental trauma due to the incident. The news gave the public an insight into the world of agricultural workers who do the dangerous and difficult work that our food does to us. For a moment there was sympathy and understanding of the role of employees of migration background in our country.

Today's atmosphere is very different. Workers all over the country live with fear and fear from day to day. Diligent immigrants are disparaged and aimed at arrest, prison terms and hard deportations and family separation. The tragic accident of last year gave those who do the hard work in this country. Perhaps people have to hear their stories, meet their families and share their cultures. If we harm our immigrant communities, we only harm us as a country and each of us as individuals. The hostility that people feel towards immigrants must be replaced by love and compassion.

Bryan Howard faces eight charges of the Dui -Totschlag and will appear in court on Thursday, May 15th.

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Victim of the fatal bus accident in Marion County remembered; “Eight innocent lives were lost”

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