Eight dead, many injured in migrant bus accident

At approximately 6:36 a.m., a bus carrying fifty-three migrant workers headed to pick watermelons was involved in a serious accident on highway 40 and SW 148th Court.

According to a spokesperson for Marion County Fire Rescue, eight people were killed in the accident and at least eight were transported in critical condition.

MCFR had to “cut back the door to make entry to the patients” trapped in the bus.

Forty-five patients were transported via Marion County Fire Rescue and one Marion County School bus to various area hospitals.

By 7:35 a.m., at least six ambulances were observed at HCA Ocala hospital unloading patients.