A bus carrying high school students north of New York City crashed and rolled down an embankment—potentially due to a faulty tire—Thursday, injuring dozens of people and killing two, according to authorities.
New York State Police said in a press release it is “currently investigating a serious bus crash with multiple serious injuries” on I-84 in the town of Wawayanda, located in Orange County, New York.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press conference Thursday night that two adults died and five students were in critical condition; earlier in the day state authorities confirmed to NBC New York that more than 40 people were injured.
The crash happened just after 1 p.m.; officials said the preliminary determination is that a “faulty front tire” contributed to the accident.
I-84 is closed at Exit 15A going westbound, and police are asking motorists to avoid the area as it’s “expected to be closed for several hours.”
The bus was taking students from Farmingdale High School in Nassau County on Long Island to a band camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania.
In a statement shared with Forbes, the school district said police, emergency responders and district administrators are at the scene, and there will be “another update when more information becomes available.”
New York leaders are already weighing in on the crash. Sen. Chuck Schumer tweeted that he’s monitoring the incident and “praying for the students, passengers, families and everyone involved.” Gov. Kathy Hochul also said on social media she was briefed on the incident, and has directed New York State Police and the New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to assist local emergency responders.
Farmingdale High School is on the south shore of Long Island and the only high school in the Farmingdale School District, which is about 30 miles east of New York City. The district has 5,127 students.