MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The driver accused of causing the deadly farm bus crash on that killed eight migrant workers and injured dozens of others is facing more charges.
41-year-old Bryan Howard reappeared in Marion County court on Friday, May 24, to face 11 counts of DUI with serious bodily injury to another.
The eleven counts are in addition to the eight counts of DUI manslaughter Howard already faces.
Howard appeared again in court wearing a protective smock given to inmates on suicide watch. As Howard approached the stand, the judge informed Howard of his eleven new charges. He asked Howard if he has an attorney, as he was originally appointed a public defender. Howard responded, “Yeah, I have one.”
As he stepped away from the podium, the judge informed Howard he is still being held without bond.
Howard is now facing nineteen separate charges stemming from the bus crash on May 14.
In an arrest report, Howard informed investigators he smoked marijuana oil and took prescription drugs hours before troopers say he sideswiped a farm bus that was carrying seasonal farm workers. The workers were on their way to Cannon Farms in Dunnellon to harvest watermelon.
Howard added that he crashed his mother’s car into a tree while avoiding an animal a few days before the accident.
Marion County court records show Howard has been booked into the Marion County jail at least seven times since 2005, often on driving-related offenses. According to records, Howard has been involved in at least three crashes and has accrued numerous traffic tickets since 2006, including a citation for crossing the center line. Howard’s license has been suspended on three separate occasions, most recently in 2021 for collecting too many citations. In 2013, Howard was convicted of grand theft.
Howard pleaded not guilty to the original eight DUI-manslaughter charges. He remains incarcerated in Marion County jail.