Truck driver driver responsible for fatal accident that killed Mexican migrants smoked marijuana oil
Posted on 05/20/24 at 16:48
- Bryan Maclean Howard charged in Florida.
- He said he smoked marijuana oil before the crash.
- 8 Mexican migrant workers were killed.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) announced the arrest of 41-year-old Bryan Maclean Howard, charged with causing a fatal accident that resulted in the death of eight Mexican agricultural workers and injured dozens more.
Howard now faces eight charges of DUI manslaughter, as reported by the FHP in an official statement.
The tragic incident occurred on State Road 40, a winding road that cuts through the state’s horse farms.
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Bryan Maclean Howard charged with DUI
Howard, who was driving a 2001 Ford Ranger, veered into the opposite lane, side-swiping a bus transporting agricultural workers.
The impact caused the bus to violently swerve off its course, crashing into a fence and finally smashing into a tree before overturning.
The outcome was devastating — eight people died and more than 40 were injured.
During an interview with the Florida Highway Patrol at the hospital, Howard admitted to using illicit substances the night before the accident.
What did Howard admit to taking?
According to the arrest report, Howard stated that on Monday night he had taken two anticonvulsant medications and medications for high blood pressure.
He also smoked marijuana oil, according to FOX News.
He said he woke up about five hours later and was driving to a methadone clinic where he receives daily medication for a shattered vertebra.
The report also revealed that Howard’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, and he was slurring his words during the interview with the officers.
Days earlier Bryan Maclean Howard was involved in another accident
Moreover, Howard mentioned that a few days earlier he had crashed his mother’s car into a tree while trying to avoid an animal, according to the sworn statement obtained by The Associated Press.
Howard failed a series of sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI.
This is not Howard’s first legal incident; he was convicted of grand theft in 2013.
A year later, his probation was revoked after testing positive for cocaine, according to court documents cited by FOX.
The Mexican government weighs in
The bus involved in the accident was transporting Mexican immigrants to Cannon Farms.
The news of the accident was met with dismay in the local community and beyond. The Mexican Consulate in Orlando has been working intensively to support the victims and their families.
In addition, the Mexican government has offered its deepest condolences for the death of the eight nationals and reiterated its commitment to provide all necessary support.
Additionally, Mexican authorities reported that three Mexicans were in critical condition following the accident.
