tour bus crash in pennsylvania

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A survivor of the fatal Pennsylvania bus crash describes chaos and heroism after it turned over

Passenger Matthew Oshiafi, of New York City, describes the harrowing bus crash he was involved in on I-81 overnight Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, north of Harriburg, Pa. He was at a Red Cross Disaster Relief center set up in the Chambers Hill Fire Company hall in Swatara Township, Pa., Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. Oshiafi helped evacuate a baby from the overturned bus and was the last passenger out, escaping through the front windshield. (Mark Pynes/The Patriot-News via AP)

Police and rescue workers arrive on the scene of a bus crash late Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County ,Pa. The crash occurred between a passenger vehicle and charter bus carrying up to 50 passengers causing multiple fatalities and injuries. (Pennsylvania State Police via AP)

Pennsylvania State Troopers and Red Cross relief workers help passengers in an overnight bus crash on I-81 reclaim their luggage at a Red Cross Disaster Relief center set up in the Chambers Hill Fire Company hall in Swatara Township, Pa., Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. State police say the crash happened during heavy rain around 11:50 p.m. Sunday on southbound Interstate 81 in Dauphin County’s Lower Paxton Township, outside Harrisburg. (Mark Pynes/The Patriot-News via AP)

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A bus carrying up to 50 people traveling from New York to Ohio crashed and hit another vehicle on a Pennsylvania interstate, killing three passengers, state police said.

The wreck happened during heavy rain around 11:50 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 81 just north of Harrisburg, state police said.

The bus drove off the road, struck an embankment, rolled onto its right side and hit the back of a car that was stopped in the right lane, according to a crash report.

Three passengers were declared dead at the scene, the police report said, and others suffered injuries that ranged from minor to severe.

Matthew Oshiafi, a passenger on the bus operated by the Super Lucky Tour Company of Boston, told Pennlive.com that he remembered a terrible screeching and shuddering before the bus crashed and flipped. He said he was sitting in the last row.

Oshiafi, 39, a New York City resident who was headed to Cincinnati to visit family, said the crash threw people from their seats and left some piled on top of others. He heard people screaming and saw people around him severely injured or unconscious.

Oshiafi said he saw a couple in a nearby seat with a baby and noticed the woman appeared to be unconscious and the man was trying to help her. The man handed the baby to Oshiafi, who said he passed the baby through the broken bus windshield to emergency responders.

“I’m shaking,” he told the newspaper on Monday, about 10 hours after the crash. “I know people have died.”

A Milton S. Hershey Medical Center spokesperson said it helped 28 patients from the crash, ages 1 to 69. Three were admitted, one in critical condition. Three others were being evaluated and 22 were discharged. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Community Osteopathic treated 21 patients, treating and releasing 20 of them; one adult remained hospitalized, the medical center said.

A Red Cross-run reception center at a nearby fire company closed late Monday after helping 23 adults and two children, feeding them and offering emotional support.

A Dauphin County spokesperson said information about the people who died was not immediately available through the coroner’s office.

The name of the bus driver has not been released. Trooper Megan Frazer said Monday morning that more details about the wreck might not be released by police until Tuesday.

Peter Chan, the bus company manager, said in a brief phone interview Monday that he was “very sorry to hear about the accident” but had no further information because he hadn’t been able to talk to the driver, who was injured in the crash and remains hospitalized.

3 dead, dozens injured as tour bus carrying about 50 people crashes on Pennsylvania highway

Three people are dead and dozens suffered minor to severe injuries during a Sunday night bus crash along a Pennsylvania interstate, state police said.

The two-vehicle crash took place just before 11:50 p.m. ET on Interstate 81 in Dauphin County's Lower Paxton Township , near the state capital of Harrisburg.

The wreck involved a 2005 tour bus carrying about 50 people and a 2016 Honda CRV, Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement online.

According to a preliminary incident report, the bus was traveling south on I-81 and was navigating a curve when it came upon the Honda stopped along the highway in the right lane of traffic.

The bus exited the north side of the roadway, struck an embankment and flipped, troopers wrote in the report. The right rear roof area of the bus struck the CRV.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report.

Troopers said the remaining people on the bus suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe and were taken to hospitals.

The Honda's occupants were taken a hospital to be treated for moderate injuries. The report did not say how many people were in the Honda or why it was stopped along the interstate.

The identity of the victims and the destination of the bus are being withheld until the victim's next of kin are notified, police said.

A photo from the scene shows the bus on its side along the interstate berm near a set of brush and tall trees.

Idaho school bus crash: 7 critically injured in school bus crash that closes major highway

Crash remains under investigation

The crash remained under investigation on Monday.

Troopers shut down the interstate for several hours to investigate. The roadway was reopened just after 5 a.m local time.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly called Twitter @nataliealund.

At least 3 dead after bus carrying dozens collides with vehicle on Pennsylvania interstate

At least three people were killed and others were injured when a passenger vehicle and a bus carrying as many as 50 people crashed on a Pennsylvania freeway late Sunday, authorities said.

The collision unfolded just before 11:50 p.m. ET Sunday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 81 in Lower Paxton Township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania State Police said in a news release.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. Police said the bus, which was carrying 45 to 50 people, was left flipped on its side.

At least three people were pronounced dead at the scene, state police said.

Others were taken to a hospital for "minor to critical" injuries, police said. They said they could not say how many people were injured.

The freeway was shut down southbound between exits 77 and 72. The section reopened later.

The Chambers Hill Fire Department was designated as a location for passengers and loved ones to reunite.

Police said more information would be provided as it becomes available.

Chantal Da Silva is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based in London. 

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• Pennsylvania
• Public Safety

3 passengers dead after charter bus crashes in Pennsylvania, state police say

The bus flipped on its side after colliding with another vehicle on i-81..

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Police and rescue workers arrive on the scene of a bus crash late Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County ,Pa. (Pennsylvania State Police via AP)

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A survivor of the fatal Pa. bus crash describes chaos, heroism after it turned over

On sunday night, a bus carrying up to 50 people crashed on i-81 outside of harrisburg killing 3 people, by the associated press • published august 7, 2023 • updated on august 7, 2023 at 5:31 pm.

A passenger bus carrying up to 50 people crashed and hit another vehicle on a Pennsylvania interstate , killing three bus passengers, state police said.

The wreck happened during heavy rain around 11:50 p.m. Sunday on southbound Interstate 81 just north of Harrisburg, state police said.

The bus drove off the roadway, struck an embankment and rolled onto its right side before hitting the back of a car that was stopped in the right lane of traffic, according to a crash report.

The three passengers were declared dead at the scene, the police report said, and others suffered injuries that ranged from minor to severe.

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Matthew Oshiafi, a passenger on the bus, told Pennlive that he remembered a terrible screeching and shuddering before it crashed and flipped on its side. He said he was sitting in the last row of the bus that was covering a normal route between New York and Ohio.

Oshiafi, 39, a New York City resident who was headed to Cincinnati to visit family, said the crash threw people from their seats and left some piled on top of others. He heard people screaming and saw people around him who were severely injured or unconscious.

Oshiafi said he saw a couple in a nearby seat with a baby, and noticed the woman appeared to be unconscious and the man was trying to help her. The man handed the baby to Oshiafi, who said he passed the baby through the broken bus windshield to emergency responders.

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“I’m shaking,” he told the newspaper on Monday, about ten hours after the crash. “I know people have died."

One adult from the bus was critically injured, while one adult and one child were listed in serious condition at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, spokesperson Barbara Schindo said. In total, 28 patients were taken to that hospital. Patients ranged in age from 1 to 69, including five under the age of 18.

More patients may have been taken to another hospital, Medical Center spokesperson Scott Gilbert said.

A Dauphin County spokesperson said information about the people who died was not immediately available through the coroner's office.

“This is considered a mass casualty incident,” Trooper Megan Frazer said. “We do have eight ambulances that assisted with us, as well as lifeline (emergency response), just because of how many people were involved and the amount of injuries.”

The identities of the owner and driver of the bus have not been released. Frazer said Monday morning that more details about the wreck might not be released until Tuesday.

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3 people are dead after a tour bus crashes with another vehicle in Pennsylvania

By Michelle Watson and Holly Yan, CNN

(CNN) — A tour bus crash in Pennsylvania killed at least three people and left numerous others injured, state police said.

The disaster happened around 11:49 p.m. Sunday in the Lower Paxton Township area of Dauphin County – about 10 miles east of Harrisburg.

A 2005 Van Hool passenger motor coach – described by police as a tour bus – “was traveling south on Interstate 81 within the right lane, negotiating a right curve,” a crash report from Pennsylvania State Police said.

At the same time, a 2016 Honda CRV “was stopped in southbound traffic within the right lane of Interstate 81,” state police said.

The bus “exited the north side of the roadway entering the soft grassy roadside,” police said. It then “struck an embankment and overturned onto its right side. The right roof area struck the rear end of” the Honda.

The bus, carrying about 45 to 50 passengers, “flipped on its side and came to final rest on the right berm,” state police said in a statement to CNN.

Three people from the tour bus were declared dead at the scene, the crash report said. Other passengers on the bus were taken to local hospitals “for injuries ranging from minor to severe.”

The occupants of the Honda CRV were taken to Hershey Medical Center “with suspected moderate injuries,” state police said.

The identities of the three people killed have not been released, pending notification of next of kin.

It was not immediately clear what caused the tour bus to veer off the road.

Authorities have not released details about the group on the tour bus.

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• Pennsylvania

A survivor of the fatal Pennsylvania bus crash describes chaos, heroism after it turned over

Authorities say three passengers died after a charter bus carrying up to 50 people struck a vehicle on an interstate in Pennsylvania.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A bus carrying up to 50 people traveling from New York to Ohio crashed and hit another vehicle on a Pennsylvania interstate, killing three passengers, state police said.

The wreck happened during heavy rain around 11:50 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 81 just north of Harrisburg, state police said.

The bus drove off the road, struck an embankment, rolled onto its right side and hit the back of a car that was stopped in the right lane, according to a crash report.

Three passengers were declared dead at the scene, the police report said, and others suffered injuries that ranged from minor to severe.

Matthew Oshiafi, a passenger on the bus operated by the Super Lucky Tour Company of Boston, told Pennlive.com that he remembered a terrible screeching and shuddering before the bus crashed and flipped. He said he was sitting in the last row.

Oshiafi, 39, a New York City resident who was headed to Cincinnati to visit family, said the crash threw people from their seats and left some piled on top of others. He heard people screaming and saw people around him severely injured or unconscious.

Oshiafi said he saw a couple in a nearby seat with a baby and noticed the woman appeared to be unconscious and the man was trying to help her. The man handed the baby to Oshiafi, who said he passed the baby through the broken bus windshield to emergency responders.

“I’m shaking,” he told the newspaper on Monday, about 10 hours after the crash. “I know people have died.”

A Milton S. Hershey Medical Center spokesperson said it helped 28 patients from the crash, ages 1 to 69. Three were admitted, one in critical condition. Three others were being evaluated and 22 were discharged. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Community Osteopathic treated 21 patients, treating and releasing 20 of them; one adult remained hospitalized, the medical center said.

A Red Cross-run reception center at a nearby fire company closed late Monday after helping 23 adults and two children, feeding them and offering emotional support.

A Dauphin County spokesperson said information about the people who died was not immediately available through the coroner’s office.

The name of the bus driver has not been released. Trooper Megan Frazer said Monday morning that more details about the wreck might not be released by police until Tuesday.

Peter Chan, the bus company manager, said in a brief phone interview Monday that he was “very sorry to hear about the accident” but had no further information because he hadn’t been able to talk to the driver, who was injured in the crash and remains hospitalized.

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3 people dead after charter bus, carrying about 50 passengers, crashes in PA

Authorities say 45 to 50 people were on board the bus when it flipped onto its side and came to rest on the berm of Interstate 81.

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania -- Police say three people are dead after a charter bus with dozens of people onboard was involved in a crash in central Pennsylvania.

It happened during heavy rain around 11:50 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 81, about 10 miles northwest of Harrisburg.

The bus trip originated in New York, abc27 News in Harrisburg reports.

The bus drove off the roadway, struck an embankment and rolled onto its right side before hitting the back of a car that was stopped in the right lane of traffic, according to a crash report.

The three passengers were declared dead at the scene, the police report said, and others suffered injuries that ranged from minor to severe.

Authorities say 45 to 50 people were on board the bus when it flipped.

"This is considered a mass casualty incident," Trooper Megan Frazer said. "We do have eight ambulances that assisted with us, as well as lifeline (emergency response), just because of how many people were involved and the amount of injuries."

The identities of the owner and driver of the bus have not been released. Frazer said Monday morning that more details about the wreck might not be released until Tuesday.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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A survivor of the fatal Pennsylvania bus crash describes chaos, heroism after it turned over

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A bus carrying up to 50 people traveling from New York to Ohio crashed and hit another vehicle on a Pennsylvania interstate, killing three passengers, state police said.

The wreck happened during heavy rain around 11:50 p.m. Sunday on southbound Interstate 81 just north of Harrisburg, state police said.

The bus drove off the roadway, struck an embankment, rolled onto its right side and hit the back of a car that was stopped in the right lane of traffic, according to a crash report.

The three passengers were declared dead at the scene, the police report said, and others suffered injuries that ranged from minor to severe.

Matthew Oshiafi, a passenger on the bus operated by the Super Lucky Tour Company of Boston,  told Pennlive.com  that he remembered a terrible screeching and shuddering before it crashed and flipped on its side. He said he was sitting in the last row of the bus.

Oshiafi, 39, a New York City resident who was headed to Cincinnati to visit family, said the crash threw people from their seats and left some piled on top of others. He heard people screaming and saw people around him severely injured or unconscious.

Oshiafi said he saw a couple in a nearby seat with a baby and noticed the woman appeared to be unconscious and the man was trying to help her. The man handed the baby to Oshiafi, who said he passed the baby through the broken bus windshield to emergency responders.

“I’m shaking,” he told the newspaper on Monday, about ten hours after the crash. “I know people have died.”

One adult from the bus was critically injured, while one adult and one child were listed in serious condition at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, spokesperson Barbara Schindo said. In total, 28 patients were taken to that hospital. Patients ranged in age from 1 to 69, including five under the age of 18. Another hospital also treated some people from the wreck, police said.

A Dauphin County spokesperson said information about the people who died was not immediately available through the coroner’s office.

The name of the bus driver has not been released. Trooper Megan Frazer said Monday morning that more details about the wreck might not be released by police until Tuesday.

Peter Chan, the bus company manager, said in a brief phone interview Monday that he was “very sorry to hear about the accident” but had no further information about the crash because he hasn’t been able to talk with the driver, who was injured in the crash and remains hospitalized.

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Pennsylvania turnpike crash involving tour bus, tractor-trailers leaves 5 dead, nearly 60 injured.

All five victims killed in the accident have been identified by the Westmoreland County coroner, including a 9-year-old girl.

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A crash involving a tour bus and three tractor-trailers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike early Sunday morning left at least five people dead, with about 60 others being taken to area hospitals, state police said.

All five victims killed have now been identified by the Westmoreland County coroner. Among the dead are the bus driver, Shuang Qing Feng, 58, of Flushing, New York and two bus passengers, Eileen Zelis Aria, 35, of Bronx, New York and Jaremy Vazquez, a 9-year-old girl from Brooklyn, New York.

Two UPS drivers -- Daniel Kepner, 53, and Dennis Kehler, 48 -- also died in the crash, the company confirmed Sunday night. Both were driving together in a tractor-trailer out of Harrisburg, according to a UPS spokeswoman.

Click the video player above to watch the latest report from Pittsburgh's Action News 4.

The bus, the tractor-trailers and a car were all involved in the chain-reaction incident at milepost 86 on the westbound turnpike in Mount Pleasant, about 40 miles from Pittsburgh, according to state police.

The tour bus "was headed on a downhill grade, and the bus was unable to negotiate a corner," Trooper Steve Limani said. "That bus went up an embankment, rolled over and then subsequently was hit by two tractor-trailers."

A third tractor-trailer then hit the first two, with a car also becoming involved in the pileup, police said.

Bus towed from turnpike crash scene: Watch the video below.

The crash, which shut down the turnpike between New Stanton and Breezewood for several hours, was described by police as tragic and horrific. National Transportation Safety Board investigators also responded to the scene.

"The vehicles are so entangled, and it's such a mess," Limani said.

Pennsylvania State Police said the bus is owned by Z&D Tour, Inc. The bus began its journey at a curbside terminal in New York's Chinatown, with Cincinnati as its destination.

Click the video player below to see Sky 4 video from the scene.

THE PATIENTS

Among the victims are Japanese and Spanish language-speaking international visitors, some of whom don't speak English.

"We're doing everything we can to make sure that while they're in our country, and they were involved in this horrific incident, that we're able to be compassionate and providing the things they're going to need," Limani said.

Mouhamad Diallo, a passenger on the bus, said the chain-reaction incident was "chaotic" and happened fast.

"It drifted, spinned around three times, and then a truck hit us afterwards, then another truck hit that truck into us and then we escaped," Diallo said.

Bus passenger describes what happened: Watch the video below

Excela Health Frick Hospital in Mount Pleasant received 31 patients, all between the ages of 7 and 52, a spokeswoman said. Nine of the patients are younger than 18. The hospital said 27 patients had been released as of 4:30 p.m.

The phone number for families inquiring about patients is 724-237-6027.

There were 11 patients between the ages of 15 and 67 at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. Two of those patients were in critical condition. Some patients have been released, said the hospital's president, Dr. Mark Rubino, at an afternoon news conference.

Watch the Forbes Hospital news conference in the video player below.

A spokesperson at UPMC Somerset confirmed that the hospital received 18 patients. Six of those patients were younger than 18. Fifteen of the patients were treated and released.

Three adult patients were transferred from Frick Hospital to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, and a child was transferred to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Click the video player below to watch the afternoon briefing from Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Turnpike officials.

NTSB LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION

The National Transportation Safety Board will be at the scene for about seven to 10 days, as a team of 20 collects information for the government agency's investigation of the crash , board member Jennifer Homendy said.

"We have a group of experts who will focus on roadway design, driver performance, motor carrier compliance, mechanical aspects of the vehicle, survival factors, accident reconstruction," she said.

Homendy added that other staff members will use drones to document the crash scene.

The NTSB expects to meet with state police Sunday night and hold a news conference Monday to announce more information about the crash.

A probable cause of the fatal crash will not be determined by the NTSB's investigative team during its time in the Pittsburgh area, Homendy said.

"We are here to collect the factual information and the perishable evidence that will help us conduct that safety investigation," she said.

NTSB news conference on turnpike crash: Click the video player below to watch.

BUS SAFETY RECORDS

Action News Investigates reviewed federal safety records that showed Z&D has a satisfactory rating with no crashes or citations in the past two years.

In 2015, state police issued three citations against the company.

"I feel very sad," Z&D owner Dan Yu Chen said by phone Sunday. "I don't think it's our fault. It's weather, snow and ice. I don't know what happened."

Action News Investigates looks into bus safety records: Watch the report below.

This is a developing story. Stay with Pittsburgh's Action News 4 for the latest updates. Download the app now to stay connected with breaking news.

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3 people killed in charter bus crash on i-81 in dauphin county.

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Pennsylvania State Police say three people were killed in a charter bus crash on Interstate 81 in Dauphin County.

According to Trooper Megan Frazer, the bus, which was carrying 45 to 50 passengers, collided with a Honda CRV around 11:50 p.m. Sunday during heavy rain.

The bus was heading south on I-81, taking a right curve. The Honda was stopped in southbound traffic "within the right lane on Interstate 81," according to PSP.

The bus went off the road, hit an embankment and flipped onto its side. The right roof area of the bus hit the CRV. The bus came to a rest on its side along the road.

UPDATE : You can read a full statement from PSP about what led up to the crash here .

The Dauphin County Coroner's Office said two people on the bus and one person in the Honda were killed. They were all declared dead at the scene. Their names have not yet been released.

The bus was on its way from Canal Street, New York, to Ohio.

Dozens taken to hospitals

Eight ambulances and lifeline (emergency response) responded to the crash and dozens of people were taken to Hershey Medical Center and UPMC Community Osteopathic with injuries ranging from minor to severe.

WGAL got the following breakdown of how the patients are doing:

• 28 patients transported (ranging in age from 1 to 69)
• 22 discharged
• Three are currently in the emergency department
• One adult is critical
• One adult is serious
• One child is serious
• 21 patients transported
• 20 discharged
• One adult remains hospitalized

The crash shut down I-81, but it has since reopened.

Chambers Hill Fire Department was opened for the reunification of the passengers. The Red Cross assisted at that location.

Video below: Crash scene.

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A survivor of the fatal Pennsylvania bus crash describes chaos and heroism after it turned over

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A bus carrying up to 50 people traveling from New York to Ohio crashed and hit another vehicle on a Pennsylvania interstate, killing three passengers, state police said.

The wreck happened during heavy rain around 11:50 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 81 just north of Harrisburg, state police said.

The bus drove off the road, struck an embankment, rolled onto its right side and hit the back of a car that was stopped in the right lane, according to a crash report.

Three passengers were declared dead at the scene, the police report said, and others suffered injuries that ranged from minor to severe.

Matthew Oshiafi, a passenger on the bus operated by the Super Lucky Tour Company of Boston, told Pennlive.com that he remembered a terrible screeching and shuddering before the bus crashed and flipped. He said he was sitting in the last row.

Oshiafi, 39, a New York City resident who was headed to Cincinnati to visit family, said the crash threw people from their seats and left some piled on top of others. He heard people screaming and saw people around him severely injured or unconscious.

Oshiafi said he saw a couple in a nearby seat with a baby and noticed the woman appeared to be unconscious and the man was trying to help her. The man handed the baby to Oshiafi, who said he passed the baby through the broken bus windshield to emergency responders.

“I’m shaking,” he told the newspaper on Monday, about 10 hours after the crash. “I know people have died.”

A Milton S. Hershey Medical Center spokesperson said it helped 28 patients from the crash, ages 1 to 69. Three were admitted, one in critical condition. Three others were being evaluated and 22 were discharged. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Community Osteopathic treated 21 patients, treating and releasing 20 of them; one adult remained hospitalized, the medical center said.

A Red Cross-run reception center at a nearby fire company closed late Monday after helping 23 adults and two children, feeding them and offering emotional support.

A Dauphin County spokesperson said information about the people who died was not immediately available through the coroner’s office.

The name of the bus driver has not been released. Trooper Megan Frazer said Monday morning that more details about the wreck might not be released by police until Tuesday.

Peter Chan, the bus company manager, said in a brief phone interview Monday that he was “very sorry to hear about the accident” but had no further information because he hadn’t been able to talk to the driver, who was injured in the crash and remains hospitalized.

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Three killed following tour bus crash on Pennsylvania interstate

At least three people were killed and several others were injured after a tour bus collided with a stopped vehicle and flipped over during a downpour in Pennsylvania on Sunday.

The 2005 Van Hool passenger motor coach was traveling south in the right lane on Interstate 81 in the Lower Paxton Township area of Dauphin County around 11.49pm, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Meanwhile, a 2016 Honda CRV was stopped in the same lane on the interstate, police said.

The bus, which was carrying about 45 to 50 passengers, then swerved off the roadway and onto the grassy area on the side of the road where it then “struck an embankment and overturned onto its right side. The right roof area struck the rear end of the CRV,” state police said.

After the bus flipped onto its side, it came to rest on the right berm.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not been released, pending notification of next of kin.

Several people were transported to Hershey Medical Center, police said, including passengers from the bus who suffered “injuries ranging from minor to severe.”

Police said the occupants of  the Honda CRV who were taken to the hospital had “moderate injuries.”

According to CBS News Philadelphia , the bus had departed from New York but it’s not known which company the bus was part of or where it was heading.

The state capital of Harrisburg and the popular tourist destination Hershey Park are both in Dauphin County.

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Pennsylvania Turnpike crash involving tour bus, semi-trucks leaves multiple dead; highway closed

5 dead, 60 hurt in huge crash on Pennsylvania Turnpike

Multiple people were killed in a major crash involving a tour bus, semi-trucks and several other vehicles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, according to officials.

Multiple people were killed in a major crash involving a tour bus on its way to Ohio from New Jersey  and three semi-trucks on the Pennsylvania Turnpike early Sunday in the western part of the state that left dozens injured, according to officials.

The "extremely serious" crash happened around 3:40 a.m. Sunday in the highway's westbound lanes in Mount Pleasant Township , located about 40 miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh , according to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Stephen Limani.

Limani said there were five fatalities and about 60 injuries as a result of the crash. Of those injured -- ranging in age from 7 to "into their 60's" -- two are listed in critical condition, according to Limani.

NJ TRANSIT TRAIN SLAMS INTO CAR ON TRACKS SOUTHWEST OF NEWARK, KILLING DRIVER AND PASSENGER

Pennsylvania State Police said the tour bus was traveling westbound on the highway from Rockaway, New Jersey to Cincinnati on a downhill curve when it struck an embankment and rolled over. After the bus rolled over, it was then struck by two semi-trucks before a third truck collided with the two other semis involved in the initial crash. Another vehicle then also became ensnared in the crash site.

A total of six vehicles were involved in the crash, including a tour bus, three semi-trucks loaded with parcels and one private passenger vehicle, according to police.

Multiple people were killed after a major crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike early Sunday. (KDKA-TV via NNS)

State police said that a total of 39 people were transported to area hospitals, including 28 sent to Frick Hospital in Mount Pleasant and 11 transported to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville.

Images from the scene showed mangled wreckage on the highway. A tour bus could be seen flipped on its side as a result of the crash.

The crash happened on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County, around 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. (KDKA-TV via NNS)

Angela Maynard, a tractor-trailer driver from Kentucky, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review she was traveling eastbound with her co-driver on the turnpike around 3:30 a.m. when they came across the crash.

“It was horrible,” she said.

Maynard told the newspaper she saw someone on the ground, while another person was trapped in their truck.

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“I walked toward the scene and saw one of the truck drivers laying [sic] near the barrier. I tried to keep him occupied, keep talking, until medical help arrived," Maynard told the Tribune-Review. "He was in bad shape. He was floating in and out of consciousness.”

The bus, part of Z&D Tours, was filled with passengers mostly from other countries, according to Limani. He said two "most prominent" languages were Japanese or Spanish, but officials are still working on identifying those who were killed or injured due to many having documents and identification that are still at the crash scene.

"It's just a lot going on when it comes to identifying them and contacting their loved ones," he told reporters at a news conference Sunday afternoon.

Emergency crews respond to a fatal crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mount Pleasant Township early Sunday morning, Jan. 5, 2020. (WPIX TV via AP)

Limani said the Red Cross is assisting the victims of the crash, and "doing everything" to make it as comfortable as it can be to those impacted by the incident.

The crash caused all lanes to be closed in both directions on the highway between the Breezewood and New Stanton exits, roughly an 86-mile stretch of roadway.

Motorists traveling east are being urged to use Route 119 south US 40 east to Interstate 68 east (at Cumberland, Maryland) to Interstate 70 west and re-enter the turnpike at the Breezewood Interchange exit 161.

Westbound motorists are urged to use Route 30 west to Interstate 99 north to US Route 22 west to Route 66 south and re-enter the turnpike at exit 75 in at the New Stanton exit, according to KDKA-TV .

The Pennsylvania Turnpike can be seen empty after it was closed in both directions following a major crash early Sunday. (KDKA-TV via NNS)

It was not clear if the weather was a factor in the crash. The National Weather Service forecast for Westmoreland County early Sunday listed light unknown precipitation and an air temperature just below freezing.

"The one thing about traveling through Pennsylvania is that we have change in weather. It could be just because of our mountains, our hills. Just the way that our elevation changes," Limani told reporters. "We were told that by some of the people that were driving, that the weather did start to change."

Limani told reporters that weather conditions "could have played a factor" in the crash, but authorities will be able to "get to that answer" as the investigation progresses.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Chief Operating Officer Craig Shuey told reporters at a news conference Sunday afternoon that work crews had been treating the roadway since 9 p.m. due to wintry conditions in the region. Shey added that road crews were cycling treatment using either salt or cinders during the time period before the crash took place.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has dispatched a board member and team of 13 people to the scene, according to Limani

One FedEx semi-truck was pictured among the trucks involved in the crash. In a statement to Fox News, a FedEx spokesperson said the company extends "our deepest condolences to the families of the individuals involved in this accident."

"There is no higher priority for FedEx Ground than safety, and we are cooperating fully with investigating authorities at this time," the spokesperson added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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What we know about Z & D Tour, the company operating bus involved in deadly PA Turnpike crash

MT. PLEASANT, Pa. — State police said the company operating a coach bus involved in a deadly chain reaction crash Sunday morning on the Pennsylvania Turnpike was Z & D Tour Inc.

RELATED: PA Turnpike reopens after 5 people killed, about 60 hospitalized following crash

PHOTOS: 5 killed, about 60 injured in crash on PA Turnpike PHOTOS: 5 killed, about 60 injured in crash on PA Turnpike

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the company is based out of Rockaway, New Jersey, and has been in business since 2012.

Z & D Tour employed 15 drivers and had eight vehicles.

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Prior to Sunday’s Turnpike crash, the FMCSA reported the company had no vehicles out of service and had not been involved in any crashes in the last two years. All of their vehicles had been inspected and 12 of the 15 drivers had also been inspected.

Inspection records show they are licensed to carry passengers on interstates. In the past two years, the bus wasn’t involved in any accidents and was inspected 12 times. It was given a “satisfactory” rating in November 2018.

At a press conference, officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said they had removed the Engine Control Module from the bus in the hopes it could provide information such as speed and steering input.

RELATED: People injured in PA Turnpike crash that killed 5 treated at number of area hospitals

At the time of the crash, there were 56 passengers on the bus and one driver.

NTSB investigators said the bus has last been inspected on Dec. 17, 2019. No issues were found with the vehicle. The driver of the bus, Shuang Qing Feng, 58 of Flushing, New York, was one of the people killed in the crash. NTSB officials said he had just had a review in 2018 and, again, there were no issues or violations found.

The NTSB has requested Feng’s driving record as well as the records of the other drivers in the crash.

There were no seatbelts on the bus, according to NTSB officials, which may have prevented individuals from being ejected during the crash. As for the bus driver, it was not clear yet if he was or was not wearing one. At the national level, seat belts are not required to be in place or worn on coach buses.

Federal investigators found out the bus driver had a valid commercial driver’s license and no history of crashes in New York.

NTSB holds news conference on deadly turnpike crash NTSB holds news conference on deadly turnpike crash

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Multiple passengers killed in Pennsylvania charter bus crash

Bus carrying 45 to 50 people collided with another vehicle on an interstate late Sunday

Multiple passengers have died after a charter bus carrying up to 50 people collided with another vehicle on an interstate in Pennsylvania late Sunday, according to state police officials.

The crash happened at about 11.50pm in the southbound lanes of interstate 81 in Dauphin county’s Lower Paxton Township , the state police said. The bus flipped on its side after striking the rear end of a car.

Police said in a statement that “multiple passengers” – from 45 to 50 who were aboard – had died. CBS News later reported that at least three passengers had been killed, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene.

According to CBS, the crash happened at the time of a heavy downpour.

The injured from both the bus and the struck car were taken to a hospital. Those in the struck car were believed to have moderate injuries, CBS reported. But police didn’t immediately release further information on their conditions. Officials also said they were withholding the names of those killed until their families had been notified.

Lower Paxton Township is about 10 miles east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania , a city with roughly 50,000 residents.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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1st lawsuit filed in deadly Pennsylvania Turnpike tour bus crash

Two brothers from New Jersey who were aboard a tour bus that crashed on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County in January, killing five people and injuring 60, filed a civil lawsuit Thursday against the bus company.

Anthony Ellis, 39, and Quwanjay Ellis, 18, both of Irvington, N.J., accuse Z&D Tour Inc., of Rockaway, N.J., and the late bus driver of negligence. They are seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for severe injuries both suffered in the crash.

The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County, is believed to be the first arising from the fatal crash.

The suit alleges negligence, negligent hiring and other “grossly negligent” conditions that violated state and federal transportation laws, rules and regulations, according to Daniel R. Lapinski, an attorney with Cherry Hill law firm Motley Rice New Jersey LLC.

The brothers boarded the bus in New York City and intended to travel to Columbus, Ohio, where Anthony had obtained an apartment and was planning to look for work, the lawsuit states.

Because of his injuries, Lapinski said Anthony cannot walk, is a patient at a rehabilitation facility “and because of his current condition is unable to be moved.”

“He is unsure if he will ever be able to walk again,” Lapinski told the Tribune-Review.

“Quwanjay was seated directly behind the bus driver, and his brother, Anthony, was seated nearby in the front row of the passenger side. Quwanjay alleges that, prior to the crash, the bus appeared to be exceeding a safe speed and he saw the driver leaning and attempting to steer the bus toward the left as it descended a slope,” the lawsuit states.

The bus driver, Shuang Qing Feng, 58, of Flushing, N.Y., was among those killed in the crash.

After hearing passengers scream as the bus driver lost control, Lapinski said Quwanjay saw the driver “jolting the steering wheel sharply to the right” as the bus crossed all three lanes, crashed into the steep embankment and flipped onto its passenger side before sliding to a stop across the westbound lanes.

Vehicles including Federal Express and UPS trucks hit the bus, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Anthony Ellis was thrown through the front window, the attorney said. He sustained a broken neck, shoulder and collarbone and head- and collar-area lacerations with significant scarring. He underwent surgery to have metal plates inserted into his shoulder and collarbone.

He is undergoing physical therapy at a rehabilitation center, Lapinski said. Quwanjay Ellis managed to crawl through the front window of the bus following the crash and suffered injuries to his right elbow, hand, both feet and his chest.

“When Quwanjay and Anthony Ellis bought their tickets, they, like all the other passengers on board, trusted Z&D Tours with their lives, and they trusted that the company hired and trained a driver who would operate the vehicle in a competent manner to safely see them to their destination,” the lawsuit states.

The NTSB released its initial report on the crash last month but has not determined a cause. State police said the bus lost control when driving around a curve about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 5 on the section of turnpike passing through Mt. Pleasant Township.

“We believe Z&D Tours failed to uphold its end of the bargain, and people were seriously injured and lives were lost because of it. While Quwanjay and Anthony were lucky to survive, they will never be the same,” Lapinski said.

He said Quwanjay continues to suffer nightmares and emotional trauma from “the horrors” he saw that day.

“Anthony’s entire world has been upended. He was traveling to Ohio for work, and now it’s uncertain if he’ll ever be able to walk again,” Lapinski said.

The 12-page lawsuit alleges both Z&D and Feng were responsible for the crash.

“Both defendants carelessly, negligently, grossly negligently and recklessly owned, leased, managed, maintained entrusted, controlled and operated the incident tour bus at the time and place (of the crash),” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit alleges Feng, by his actions, “was incapable of properly observing the road and traffic conditions” and the tour bus company failed to “provide sufficient warnings as to the defectiveness and unsafe conditions with regard to the lack of various restraint systems and other restraint components in the incident tour bus at the time of the accident.”

The turnpike was shut down for nearly 15 hours.

Attempts to reach Z&D Tours and its owner, Chen Dan Yu, for comment by phone and email were unsuccessful.

The NTSB said a final report on the cause of the crash could take two years.

The NTSB disclosed in its preliminary information that a Dec. 17 inspection of the bus didn’t identify any issues, and a recent review of the driver showed satisfactory marks.

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Philadelphia woman dead, dozens injured in party bus crash on I-95 in Harford County

By Andrew Adeolu , Tara Lynch , Adam Thompson

Updated on: May 7, 2024 / 6:17 PM EDT / CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE – A Philadelphia woman died and multiple people were injured when a party bus crashed into a guardrail Sunday morning on I-95 in Harford County.

Maryland State Police said 24 people were on the bus around 6 a.m. when it lost control and crashed near mile marker 77 along the northbound lanes.

1 Person is dead following morning party bus accident on I95 in #belcamp pic.twitter.com/AKOpiy8HV9 — Joppa-Magnolia VFC (@jmvfc8) May 5, 2024

Troopers said 30-year-old Alexis Nicole Kegler, from Philadelphia, died at the scene and 23 were taken to hospitals, according to the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company.

According to a post by the volunteer fire company on X, formerly known as Twitter, the bus belonged to Just Becuz Entertainment, which is based in Philadelphia. The company's website says it provides transportation from Philadelphia to New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

I-95 northbound in Harford County is back open after it was closed for several hours.

At this time, officials say no charges have been filed. 

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Harford County Sheriff's Office and the Maryland State Police Crash Team are investigating this crash.

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Five injured when williamsport bus, suv collide on golden strip.

At least five people were injured when a River Valley Transit bus and a Nissan Altima collided head-on in front of The Villa restaurant on East Third Street, near Westminster Drive, at about 4:20 p.m. Thursday, state police said. None of the injuries appeared serious, police said.

The driver of the Altima was westbound and turned directly in front of the eastbound bus as she entered a parking lot, police said.

“It sounded like an explosion,” said one Villa employee, who was inside the restaurant when the collision happened.

Loyalsock Township and South Williamsport firefighters responded to the crash.

While one westbound lane remained open, all eastbound traffic was diverted away from the crash until the vehicles were removed.

Police said four of those injured were passengers on the bus. The driver of the Altima also was hurt, police said. She and a bus passenger were taken to UPMC Williamsport.

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Crime and Public Safety | Pennsylvania State Police reports:…

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Crime and Public Safety

Subscriber only, crime and public safety | pennsylvania state police reports: trooper-involved crash, stolen atvs and bronco in concord, ev hits septa bus, a man in only a trench coat, maserati getaway vehicle, home construction scam and more..

Accident: No one was injured when a state trooper’s vehicle rear-ended a vehicle on Interstate 95 that stopped had stopped suddenly in reaction to another vehicle, which just crashed a high rate of speed to the right. Troopers said the incident occurred at mile marker 6.2 in Chester. A BMW was traveling south in the left lane when the crash occurred to his right and the vehicle ended up in the right and center lanes. The operator of the BMW turned on his flashers and stopped and then was struck by the trooper. No information was released on the speeding vehicle.

Fraud:  A resident of Evergreen Place in Chadds Ford Township reported American Airlines reward points had been hacked from his account.

DUI and drug arrest: Two Philadelphia men were charged after troopers stopped a 2009 Hyundai Sonata on U.S. 1 north in Upper Providence at 9:23 p.m. for traffic violations. The driver was charged with driving under the influence and a rear passenger charged with drug violations.

Drugs: At 7:44 p.m., Troopers stopped a 2011 Nissan Rouge for following too closely on Interstate 95 north in Tinicum. A 25-year-old passenger from Wilmington was found to be in possession of drugs.

Vehicles stolen: Troopers responded to the 300 block of Mattson Road in Concord Township for two ATV’s valued at a total of $8,000 stolen from the property.

Vehicle stolen: Troopers responded to the 100 block of Mattson Road in Concord for a 2023 light blue Ford Bronco that was stolen between 1:30 and 3 a.m.

Warrant: At 2:45 a.m., troopers stopped a 2017 Jeep in the 1300 block of Wes Baltimore Pike in Middletown Township. The 31-year-old operator from Philadelphia was arrested on a warrant charge.

Bus accident: A 2023 Genesis collided with a SEPTA bus on Interstate 476 at 2:35 p.m. The 30-yearr-old driver of the electric car suffered a minor injury. No one on the bus was injured.

Pursuit: At 9:33 p.m. Troopers stopped a 2022 Ford Explorer on Interstate 95 north in Ridley for reckless driving. The motorist stopped then fled troopers without headlights at a high rate of speed. The operator was identified as an investigation unfolded and charged.

Indecent exposure: At 4:11 p.m., a white male walked through the main lobby at 1102 Baltimore Pike in Concord was wearing only a tan trench coat.

Assault: Troopers responded at 5:17 a.m. to Baker Close at Adams Boulevard in Edgmont Township for an assault, and charged a 39-year-old male with assaulting a 37-year-old female.

Theft: At 1:21 p.m., a 32-year-old Edgmont man report his wallet being taken from the Gran Rodeo Mexican Bar and Grill in the 200 block of Painters Crossing in Chadds Ford.

Burglary: At 10:50 a.m., troopers responded to the 200 block of Bishops Drive in Chester Heights for a burglary in progress. A subject known to the victim was located in the home prior to the date she was legally permitted. She fled in a 2014 Maserati prior to troopers arrival.

DUI: A 29-year-old Boothwyn man was charged with driving under the influence after troopers stopped a 2013 Mazda 3 on Interstate 95 south in Chester for traffic violations.

DUI: Troopers stopped a 2013 Honda Pilot just after midnight on Interstate 95 south at exit 4 in Chester. The 47-year-old male operator from Garnet Valley was found to be under the influence.

DUI: Troopers stopped a 2003 Nissan at routes 322 and 452 after the owner of the vehicle was noted to have a warrant. The 45-year-old Philadelphia man was charged with driving under the influence of drugs.

Road rage: Troopers responded to Interstate 476 south in Nether Providence for a accident in which one driver break checked a victim, causing a collision and then got out and punched the hood of the victim’s car before fleeing the scene. Troopers identified Andrew Kaplan, 30, of Philadelphia as the driver who fled. He was charged with the accident and criminal mischief.

Students with vape: Troopers were called to the 500 block of Smithbridge Road in Concord for a 15-year-old with a THC vape and another with a container of alcohol.

Construction theft: A resident on the unit block of Smithbridge Road in Concord told troopers he hired a Ridley Township man to perform construction services at his home and gave him a credit card to pay for $2,500 in materials. Instead the man charged $3,300 and the work wasn’t done.

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Victim identified in fatal bus crash on I-95 in Harford County

One person was killed in a fatal crash Sunday on Interstate 95 in Harford County.

At around 6 a.m., first responders received a call for a single-vehicle crash on I-95 northbound near mile marker 79.5.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the bus, which had 24 people onboard, was traveling north on I-95 when the driver lost control for unknown reasons and struck a guardrail.

One person died in the crash. On Tuesday, police identified the victim as Alexis Nicole Kegler, 30, of Philadelphia.

Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

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READ THE FULL STORY: Victim identified in fatal bus crash on I-95 in Harford County

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Philadelphia woman killed in party bus crash on I-95 in Maryland; 23 others hurt

Police confirmed to Action News that Alexis Nicole Kegler, 30, of Philadelphia, was killed in the wreck.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia woman was killed and nearly two dozen others were injured in a party bus crash in Maryland last weekend.

It happened around 6 a.m. Sunday on northbound I-95 in Harford County.

According to Maryland State Police, 24 people were on the bus when the driver lost control and struck a guard rail.

According to the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, 23 other people were taken to area hospitals, some in serious condition.

State police told the Baltimore Sun that "Just Becuz Entertainment Party Bus Service," a Philadelphia company, was involved in the crash.

At the time of the crash, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said the company was not registered with FMCSA.

Further details on the crash were not released as of Thursday.

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