At least 1 dead, more than 40 students injured after bus crashes on I-84 in New York
NEW YORK — At least one person was killed and dozens more injured when a bus carrying students from Farmingdale High School on Long Island to a band camp event in Greeley, Pennsylvania, crashed 75 miles north of New York City on Thursday.
New York State Police reported “multiple serious injuries” resulting from the wreck on Interstate 84 in the town of Wawayanda, New York. The highway’s westbound lanes were expected to be closed for several hours as rescue workers responded to the scene of the accident.
News 12 Long Island reported the driver of the bus was the only fatality immediately confirmed. CNN said the unidentified driver was ejected from the vehicle.
At least 48 students were also reportedly injured, with five in critical condition.
“I heard a lot of my friends are critically injured,” one freshman at Farmingdale H.S. told CBS News.
Five other charter buses making the trip to Pennsylvania were reportedly turned around and sent back to Farmingdale H.S. The students directly involved in the crash were transferred to a physical education building in Middletown, roughly 100 miles from the Long Island school’s campus, where they were to be reunited with their families.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement she was aware of the crash and ordered state police and Homeland Security personnel to the scene to assist local rescue efforts.
“We are grateful for the first responders whose speedy action saved lives and we will continue to support them however necessary,” the governor said. “Our hearts are with all who are impacted by this horrific situation.”
The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately determined. Aerial photos showed a bus on its side in a wooded median between the eastbound and westbound lanes.
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