Florida Bus Crash Details - Florida Judge Detains Truck Driver After Deadly Bus Crash Killing 8

 

Florida Judge Detains Truck Driver After Deadly Bus Crash Killing 8

A Florida judge ordered Bryan Maclean Howard, 40, the truck driver involved in a tragic bus crash that killed eight farm workers, to be held in custody during a hearing on Wednesday. This decision came less than 24 hours after the devastating collision that led to Howard facing eight counts of driving under the influence-manslaughter.

Judge LeAnn Mackey-Barnes expressed grave concerns over Howard's driving history and his admission of being involved in another accident just three days prior to the fatal crash. "Given your history of driving incidents and prior incident of leaving the scene of an accident," she stated, "I have no alternative but to detain you until your next court appearance on June 18."

According to an arrest report, Howard confessed to troopers that he had "wrapped his mother's car around a tree" in an accident three days before the deadly bus collision. In the aftermath of Tuesday's crash, 40 individuals were hospitalized in addition to the eight fatalities.

During the brief hearing, Howard appeared in a jail uniform, with a bandage around his head, holding his shoulder or arms throughout the proceedings. He requested a public defender, informing the judge that his infrequent construction work earned him only $1,200 a month, and he had a mere $100 in his bank account.

Ironically, Howard told troopers that he was "driving very carefully" in the days leading up to the fatal crash due to the earlier accident involving his mother's car. The tragic collision occurred in Marion County, approximately 80 miles north of Orlando.

The judge's decision to detain Howard underscores the severity of the incident and the concerns surrounding his driving record and potential impairment at the time of the crash that claimed eight lives and left dozens injured.