Man accused of killing eight in DUI crash is denied bond, pleads not guilty

Eight people died and 38 people were transported to hospitals after a bus accident in west Marion County early Monday morning [Marion County Fire Rescue].

The man accused of causing a bus crash while driving under the influence, in which eight people died early Tuesday, May 14, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was denied bond early Wednesday, May 15.

Bryan Maclean Howard, 41, has been charged with eight counts of DUI manslaughter after, authorities said, he was driving his Ford Ranger pickup truck and sideswiped a bus carrying 53 farm workers, causing it to veer off the road, hit two fences and a tree, then overturn. Eight people were killed and 38 people were taken to the hospital, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred on State Road 40 between Ocala and Dunnellon.

Howard made his first appearance via Zoom from the Marion County Jail before Marion County Judge LeAnn Mackey-Barnes on May 15. The judge denied him bond due to Howard’s criminal history and potential risk he could pose to the public if released.

Six out of the deceased were identified in Howard’s arrest affidavit as Evarado Ventura Hernandez, 30; Cristian Salazar Villeda, 24; Alfredo Tovar Sanchez, 20; Isaias Miranda Pascal, 21; Jose Heriberto Fraga-Acosta, 27; and Manuel Perez Rios, 46. The other two people killed in the crash are listed as unidentified in the report.

Howard will be appointed a public defender to represent him, as he said he could not afford counsel.

“You are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle while this case is pending, sir, and you are not allowed to consume or possess any alcoholic beverages and controlled substances or take any nonprescription drugs,” Mackey-Barnes said.

Howard’s arrest affidavit details that he told troopers he had marijuana and multiple prescription drugs in his system at the time of the accident.

FHP investigators described that, in the field, Howard’s speech was slurred, and his eyes were bloodshot and watery. He said he had smoked marijuana oil the night before and had taken Klonopin, Lyrica and Clonidine.

Howard was treated at a hospital for the injuries he sustained in the crash, where troopers conducted further sobriety testing and said he failed to maintain his balance during several of the exercises. A breathalyzer test registered his blood-alcohol content as 0.00% at the hospital, according to the arrest affidavit.

A representative for the state read out Howard’s previous criminal history to the court, including three convictions for leaving the scene of a crash, three convictions of driving with a suspended license, grand theft and possession of cannabis.

There is a possibility the state will press further charges depending on how the investigation continues.

The 53 farm workers on the 2010 International bus that crashed were either all or mostly from Mexico, according to the owner of the bus, Jose Olvera.

Olvera said his business, Olvera Trucking Company, operates out of Leigh Acres and that the workers were traveling from Gainesville at the time. He said the workers had H-2A work visas.

Olvera said he has other buses but paused his business because of the tragedy. He also said he couldn’t understand how the driver of the Ford Ranger could be operating on the roads.

Chaplain Bob Miller of the Ocala Farm Ministry, a local nonprofit, said it appeared the victims were “trying to do it right” as far as having the proper documentation to work here and sadly were allegedly struck by an impaired driver.

The bus was reportedly en route to Cannon Farms at 11801 SW 180th Ave. in Dunnellon, which is off County Road 484, west of the Marion County Airport.

The farm’s phone had a message that asked people to pray for the victims of the tragedy but said the farm was closed today.

Cannon Farm has operated as a family farm operation for more than 100 years on the same location, according to the farm’s website. They raise watermelon and peanuts, and during the months of May to July, their products can be found throughout the U.S. and parts of Canada. The farm also offers a produce stand, sunflower field and family activities that are open to the public.

Correspondent Andy Fillmore contributed to this article.