[ad_1]
One person is dead and more than 40 people are injured after a bus carrying students rolled over in New York state Thursday afternoon, officials said.
New York State Police said on social media at 1:40 p.m. that there was an accident investigation on Interstate 84 in Wawayanda, about 75 miles northwest of New York City. The westbound road was closed at exit 15, state police said.
As many as 46 people were injured, with five of them in critical condition, on the bus full of mostly youngsters, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus told NBC News.
A New York State Police spokesperson confirmed that one person had died.
The bus was carrying students from the Farmingdale School District on Long Island, a district spokesperson said. The students were headed to band camp in Pennsylvania, the spokesperson said in a statement.
A district spokesperson said injured students were taken to Orange County Community’s Diana Physical Education Building on East Conkling Avenue, in Middletown, New York, for reunification.
Students aboard other buses were returning to Farmingdale High School, the spokesperson said. On their way back, students will be stopping at Orange County Community College, where they will have access to grief counselors.
The crash prompted authorities to close the Interstate westbound at exit 15A and detours will be in place, state police said in a statement. The westbound side of the interstate is expected to remain closed for several hours, according to state police.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that “our hearts are with all who are impacted by this horrific situation.”
“I have been briefed on the tragedy in Orange County where a bus filled with high school students was involved in an accident, leading to injuries and one fatality,” Hochul said. “At my direction, personnel from the New York State Police and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services are onsite to assist local emergency response teams.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., posted on social media that he’s following the developments in the bus crash.
“I’m monitoring the reports of this bus crash, and I’m praying for the students, passengers, families, and everyone involved. We thank all of our first responders on the scene.”
Aerial footage of the scene, near the Pennsylvania and New Jersey border in Orange County, New York, showed what appeared to be a charter bus on its side at the bottom of a steep median that splits the interstate. Ambulances and firetrucks could be seen lining the interstate.
State police said an update on the crash will be provided during a joint press conference with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at 6 p.m. ET.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
[ad_2]
Source link