Ramapo, New York Bus-Semitrailer Accident Leaves Six Injured

RAMAPO, N.Y. — Six people have been hospitalized following an early morning accident between a tour bus and a tractor-trailer in a suburb north of New York City.

State police say the driver of the Trailways bus and five passengers were taken to hospitals around Rockland County.

Sgt. Michael Kopp says the injured had to be extricated from the bus. Their conditions weren't believed to be life-threatening.

Police say the 5:35 a.m. accident occurred when the bus rear-ended the truck on the New York Thruway near the Ramapo service area, about 35 miles north of New York City. Both were traveling southbound.

The remaining 11 passengers were placed on another bus headed for New York City.

Trailways didn't immediately respond to calls for comment.

Southbound traffic delays continued into rush hour.

The accident is the latest in an unfortunate series of bus crashes in and around New York. In March, a bus traveling from Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut to Chinatown in New York City flipped over, killing 15 people. That same month, a Super Luxury Tours bus crashed on the New Jersey Turnpike, killing two. And then in July, a tour bus going to Niagara Falls from Washington D.C. crashed on Interstate 390, killing two and injuring 35.

The accidents prompted New York senators Chuck Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand to sponsor legislation that would require bus drivers to receive training. Currently bus drivers are not required to undergo any training.

Comments

[Andrew Fredrick]

07:43 AM on 10/20/2011

not surprising, these buses frequently travel at 80+ mph i've been passed by them on rt 28 on the downhill from Bellayre ski area heading east at over 90 mph.

[Whogivesafox]

11:46 AM on 10/19/2011

I was stuck in that mess. Usually traffic is flying through the work zones at 75. Sometimes it seems like if you don't speed by 15 to 20 mph you'll get run over. With no margin for error, this sort of thing is evitable.

[Norma Corlis]

02:24 PM on 10/18/2011

I wouldn't get on one of those dangerous bus's for any am't of money or fun. To many of them pile up all the time.

[James Lites]

02:00 PM on 10/18/2011

If drivers stop cutting in front of these buses there wouldn't be any accidents. You have to be totally blind to see how motorist are driving these days.As the traffic grows aggresion grows. Road courtesy doesn't exist anymore. As your driving just observe the traffic around you. It's not just the bus and truck drivers that will draw your attention.

[WilhelmKein]

05:03 PM on 10/18/2011

There are certainly plenty of a**holes on the road, but this bus rear-ended a tractor trailer.

[James Lites]

11:43 PM on 10/18/2011

What are the facts behind this accident? Do you know for sure? This could have been a fresh new bus driver behind that wheel. I drove a tour bus for 30 years and a tractor trailer tried to force me out of my lane.I had 56 witnesses on board watching his action .

I also had a variety of bus, trucks and cars change lanes on my front bumper. Aggression is at it's Peak. So the bus rear ended the truck so what are the facts behind this occurance. Look at the side where the damage is what does that tell you?. How many rear end vehicles do you see out there due to inappropriate lane changes.

[Max Shaw]

01:21 PM on 10/18/2011

These buses need to be more careful...Pretty sure people would rather get there alive and it take a little longer, then get [almost] killed and taken to a hospital instead.