WAWAYANDA, N.Y. — Two people have died and several others were injured Thursday when a charter bus carrying dozens of high school students overturned in New York, officials say.
Superintendent says all students injured in crash to recover
Update 1:16 p.m. EDT Sept. 24: Farmingdale School District Superintendent Paul Defendini said in a statement, according to The Associated Press, that all of the high school students who were injured in the crash Thursday are expected to recover.
Defendini said, per the AP, that some of the students who were injured are struggling.
“I know that they appreciate all the well wishes you are sending and we can’t wait to welcome them back when they are ready to return,” Defendini said.
The AP reported it is unclear how many people on Sunday are still in the hospital.
— Jessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
NTSB investigating crash; 2 adults killed identified
Update 8:32 p.m. EDT Sept. 22: Two adults killed in the crash were identified as the band director, Gina Pellettiere, 43, and retired teacher, Beatrice Ferrari, 77, according to The Associated Press.
New York State Police Department said that five of the 44 injured were hospitalized in critical condition, the AP reported.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigators arrived on the scene of the bus crash Friday, according to WCBS.
NTSB investigator John Humm said in a news conference that investigators will be looking at three things as they investigate the crash - the vehicle, the motor carrier and survival factors, the news outlet reported.
Humm said that the investigation will be done with the cooperation of the New York State Police, WCBS reported. The investigation is expected to take about five to seven days. The hope is that investigators can determine what had happened and make some safety recommendations.
— Jessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Hochul confirms death of 2 adults
Update 6:40 p.m. EDT Sept. 21: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed that two adults died and at least five students were in critical condition after a bus taking students to band camp in Pennsylvania overturned in New York, according to News 12 Long Island.
Hochul said that the preliminary investigation found that a faulty front tire may have been the cause of the crash, according to the news station.
New York State Police Lt. Col. Richard Mazzone said that there were 40 students and four adults on board the bus, according to WABC. The two people killed were identified as women.
Police said the area was expected to remain closed for a few more hours, the news outlet reported.
— Jessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Original story: The bus was taking students from Farmingdale High School in Nassau County to a band camp in Pennsylvania when it overturned on Interstate 84 around 1:20 p.m., WABC-TV reported. At least 45 people were injured, according to the news station.
In a statement obtained by WABC, officials with the Farmingdale School District said they were aware of the crash.
“We ask for your patience as we gather more details,” the statement read.
Unidentified sources told News 12 Long Island that five people suffered critical injuries and that children were among those hurt. Police confirmed to The Associated Press that one person died in the crash, although they were not immediately identified.
The person killed in the crash is believed to be an adult while the critically injured passengers were believed to be juveniles, WABC reported.
The bus involved in the crash was one of six carrying the Farmingdale High School marching band, which includes about 300 students, WCBS-TV reported. It appeared to have rolled down part of a slope in the median of the interstate before coming to rest on its side, according to the news station.
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. New York State Police said part of the roadway was closed as authorities launched an investigation.