Eight people died and nearly 40 were injured Tuesday morning when a farm bus transporting 53 workers and a Ford Ranger collided in a sideswiping manner on State Road 40 in Marion County.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the crash occurred around 6:35 a.m. on SR 40 just west of SW 148 Ct. between Ocala and Dunnellon.

The collision involved a 2001 Ford Ranger truck and a 2010 International Bus. After the two vehicles sideswiped, the bus traveled off the road, through a fence and overturned.

Emergency responders transported nearly 40 people to local medical facilities.

In a statement released just before 5 p.m., Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said state troopers arrested Bryan Maclean Howard, the driver of the Ford Ranger truck on eight counts of driving under the influence-manslaughter.

Kerner said the names of the deceased will be released pending next of kin notifications.

“Our sympathies and prayers are with the families of the deceased,” Kerner said. “Consistent with our duties, the Florida Highway Patrol will conduct both a thorough and exhaustive traffic crash and criminal investigation.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated.