The tragic bus accident in Florida claimed the life of Alfredo Tovar Sánchez, a 19-year-old Mexican farmworker who had recently arrived in the U.S. with hopes of saving money for his impending marriage. His mother, María Sánchez, shared that her son, who had been in the country for just 15 days under a temporary workers program, tragically passed away before learning that his fiancée was pregnant.
“He had plans to stay in Florida for two months, working tirelessly to save up for their future home and wedding,” expressed Sánchez tearfully from her home in Mexico during an interview with Telemundo News. The devastating loss has left her grappling with unbearable pain and uncertainty about the future.
Tovar Sánchez’s family and friends gathered at their home in central Mexico, where they mourned the loss of the young man who had been living with his mother, five sisters, and fiancée. Sánchez voiced her concerns for her son’s 17-year-old fiancée, fearing the challenges she would face as a young mother.
In the wake of the tragedy, Sánchez called for justice, hoping that the responsible party would be held accountable. Among the eight deceased farmworkers identified by authorities were Evarado Ventura Hernández, Cristian Salazar Villeda, Isaías Miranda Pascal, José Heriberto Fraga Acosta, and Manuel Pérez Ríos.
The fatal accident occurred as the farmworkers were en route to a watermelon harvest in Dunnellon, Florida. Like Tovar Sánchez, they were participants in the H-2A temporary agricultural workers program, designed to assist U.S. farmers in filling seasonal labor needs.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador pledged support for the victims, noting that the workers were employed by a Mexican American farmer. Meanwhile, the driver of the pickup truck involved in the accident, Bryan Maclean, faces charges of driving under the influence-manslaughter.
Karen Patricio, from the Farmworker Association of Florida, emphasized the urgent need for medical and mental health support for the injured workers. She described the accident as a devastating blow, exacerbating the already challenging conditions faced by many farmworkers.
