Eight dead in bus accident carrying 53 farm workers, ‘high probability’ of other deaths

Eight people were killed when a bus carrying about 53 farm workers was struck by a truck and overturned on West Highway 40 in central Florida, according to state officials.

The truck’s driver, Bryan Maclean Howard, was arrested on eight counts of driving under the influence – manslaughter, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Thirty-eight people were injured, including eight in critical condition and 30 whose lives were not in danger, according to the Marion County Fire Department.

There is a “high probability that it will exceed eight deaths,” Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Patrick Riordan told reporters.

Howard was among those hospitalized, officials said.

About 6:35 a.m., the 2010 International Bus and Howard’s 2001 Ford Ranger truck were heading in opposite directions when the truck veered toward the center line and the vehicles collided “in a sideways manner,” officials said .

The bus left Highway 40 West, went through a fence and then overturned, officials said.

The bus was heading to an area farm at the time of the crash, Riordan said.

Some of the farm workers involved in the accident were Mexican, according to Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Bárcena. The Mexican consulate in Orlando said it was helping those affected.

ABC News’ Juwon Funes contributed to this report.