State police are investigating what caused a tour bus to slam into a guardrail and then a concrete wall on I-95 in New Rochelle early Wednesday, injuring dozens and wreaking havoc on traffic. Authorities said it does not appear any other vehicles were involved in the accident between exits 15 and 16 at about 6:30 a.m. Multiple lanes on the highway were blocked off as authorities transported two dozen passengers, most of whom suffered minor neck, back and head injuries, to hospitals and tried to piece together what happened. State Police Captain Evelyn Mallard said the bus hit the center guardrail while traveling south on I-95. The forceful impact sent it veering right across three lanes and smack into a concrete wall a tenth of a mile away. No other vehicles were hit.
At some point, the bus driver got out of the vehicle or was ejected, Mallard said. He was bleeding when police got to him, but was conscious and alert. Other passengers were described as the “walking wounded.”
Mallard said the speed of the bus when it first struck the guardrail was unknown. It also wasnt known if the driver was cut off or fell asleep, or if the weather played a factor, but she said the accident could have been far worse. Deputy Fire Chief of New Rochelle Robert Benz said the bus remained in gear after hitting the concrete wall and was still coasting on the highway. A state trooper moved his cruiser in front of the bus to bring it to a halt, investigators said.The bus was headed for a hill and if it hadnt been stopped, “it would have been catastrophic,” said Mallard. According to federal safety records, the Star Tag bus company has not had any reportable accidents in the last two years. The company has a satisfactory safety rating. Investigators are reconstructing the accident at the scene.
Read the full story: Dozens Hurt in I-95 Tour Bus Accident | NBC New York.
