New body camera footage provides timeline of aftermath of bus crash involving migrant farm worker

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Newly released body camera footage from the Florida State Attorney's Office shows the heroic actions of a Marion County Sheriff's deputy during the May 14 bus crash involving migrant farm workers.

The deputy, identified by his body camera as Robert Bosnyak, helped rescue several injured workers. Thanks to 200 pages of official documents and hours of body camera footage from three Marion County sheriff's deputies, we now have a clear timeline of the first three hours after the crash.

Deputy Bosnyak was the first MCSO officer to arrive on scene along Highway 40 at 6:45 a.m. He made initial contact with the survivors, including the bus driver. The man, who was visually frightened, identified himself to Bosnyak. The deputy ordered him to stand with other survivors to receive medical attention.

Bosnyak and a Marion County firefighter identified 13 people still trapped inside the bus. At 6:47 a.m., Bosnyak helped pull a man with a leg injury off the bus and onto the grass to safety.

Immediately afterward, the MP realized he needed additional help. At 6:51 a.m., he radioed dispatch to request more ambulances, the closure of Highway 40 to all traffic, and translators.

At 6:58 a.m., as Bosnyak removed more victims and debris from the crash, MSCO Deputy Chief Kevin Turner arrived on the scene. His body camera showed him directing and blocking traffic on Highway 40.

At 7:02, Bosnyak makes contact with a survivor in a white shirt who speaks English. Bosnyak asks his name in Spanish and the man answers Xavier.

“It’s hard for me to see this,” Xavier told Bosnyak in English.

“I know, but we need your help, buddy,” Bosnyak replies, placing a hand on the tearful man’s shoulder.

Working with Xaiver, Bosnyak interviews more than a dozen survivors and assesses their needs. At 7:08 a.m., Bosnyak and Xavier find a man with blood streaming from his head. The deputy and other first responders help load the man into an ambulance.

At 7:32 a.m., Christopher Vasquez, one of the translators called by Bosnyak, arrived at the scene. Five minutes later, the two men met with Deputy Chief Robert Douglas. Another deputy told them about a second vehicle involved in the accident, a pickup truck.

After that meeting, Bosnyak left the scene to help control traffic detours around Interstate 40 from a nearby road. Deputy Vasquez remained on the scene for an additional 90 minutes to interview surviving victims of the bus crash.

This is the last uncensored body camera footage provided to TV20.

According to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) documents, eight Hispanic men, ages 20 to 46, were killed in the crash, suffering multiple skull fractures and blunt force trauma.

At 10:55 a.m., FHP officers interviewed the driver of the pickup truck that hit the bus, 41-year-old Bryan Howard. Officers said Howard's eyes were red and bloodshot and his speech was slurred. Officers arrested Howard at 1:47 p.m. on eight counts of involuntary manslaughter under the influence of alcohol after they said he failed a field sobriety test.

Since his arrest, Howard has been charged with 11 additional counts of driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury to another person. He pleaded not guilty on June 18. Howard's next court date is a pretrial conference on October 8. He remains in the Marion County Jail without bail.

RELATED: Eight dead, dozens injured in bus crash involving Marion County farmworkers, truck driver arrested

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