'People were screaming:' Passenger recounts Wanda Coach bus rollover on NYS Thruway
Brooklyn passenger says bus was sideswiped by a truck before overturning; officials say 11 people were taken to area hospitals with injuries.
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A passenger aboard a Wanda Coach bus that overturned Tuesday morning on the New York State Thruway in Ulster County says people were screaming and bleeding after the bus was allegedly sideswiped by a truck.
The 43-year-old Brooklyn man, who asked not to be identified, told News 12 he was traveling from Albany to New York City when the crash happened.
“People were screaming. People were injured. People were bleeding," the man said.
He said the bus was “sideswiped by a box truck,” throwing him from his seat before the bus rolled onto its side.
“I’m thankful for my life," he said.
The passenger shared video and photos with News 12 showing the moments after the crash.
According to New York State Police, the crash happened around mile marker 69.5 in the southbound lanes between Exits 18 and 17 in the Town of Plattekill, around 9:20 a.m. Police said approximately 23 passengers were on board the bus.
Ulster County Emergency Services Commissioner Everett Erichsen said about half of the passengers suffered minor to moderate injuries and were taken to area hospitals. The remaining passengers were brought to the Athletic and Wellness Center at SUNY New Paltz, where they were evaluated by EMS, given food and later boarded another charter bus to continue to New York City.
The Brooklyn passenger told News 12 he instead chose to take the train home.
Erichsen said Ulster County regularly trains for incidents like Tuesday’s crash.
“We’ve seen these incidents happen. There was one in Orange County a few years ago, one in Buffalo a few years ago, so these are things that we discuss and prepare for," Erichsen said.
State police said no life-threatening injuries were reported. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
News 12 has reached out to Wanda Coach for comment and has not yet received a response.
