At least eight people were killed and dozens of others were injured on Tuesday after a bus carrying farm workers collided with a pickup truck in Central Florida, the local authorities said.

The bus was carrying 53 farm workers when it sideswiped a pickup truck, drove through a fence and overturned in Ocala, Fla., according to a spokeswoman for the Florida Highway Patrol, which is investigating the incident.

About 40 passengers were taken to nearby hospitals to be treated for injuries, the spokeswoman said. She did not say the extent of their injuries.

The authorities did not confirm where the bus was traveling, but the local station WCJB reported the bus was carrying migrant workers employed at a watermelon farm in the area.