NEW YORK, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two adults were killed and multiple students were injured after their bus “tumbled down a 50-foot ravine,” on Interstate 84 in Orange County, New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news conference.
The commercial bus was carrying 40 students from Farmingdale High School and four adults, Lt. Colonel Richard L. Mazzone, of the New York State Police, said during the news conference.
Mazzone identified the two people who lost their lives as Gina Pellettiere, 43 and Beatrice Ferrari, 77.
There were several serious injuries, including five critical, Mazzone said Thursday evening. He said they have been transported to six area hospitals. Earlier, an official with the Wawayanda Fire Company said more than 40 people were injured in the accident.
“Preliminary information indicates a failure of a front tire may have been a contributing factor to this accident,” Mazzone added. A probe into the crash remains ongoing.
Authorities responded to the crash at about 1:12 p.m. Thursday, Hochul said.
The bus was one of six headed to a music event for band camp event in Pennsylvania, the Farmingdale School District said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
In her news conference, Hochul called Thursday “a day of terror” and said the state was grieving the tragedy.
“Certainly, there are families grieving today,” she said. “We have families, we have a school, a school district, a county and indeed an entire state that is grieving at this time.” — NNN-AGENCIES
