Dozens of people were injured in a collision Thursday night between a double-decker tour bus and a New York City bus, with at least 32 requiring hospitalization, according to reports.
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Transit President: Tour Bus Hit City Bus After Running Red Light, May Have Been Speeding
The tour bus reportedly blew through a red light “and T-boned” the city bus, New York City Transit President Richard Davey told CBS News.
Davey added that it may have been speeding at the time of the crash as well.
“This tour bus … Hit (our city bus) twice actually, it was going so fast, we think,” Davey said.
The New York Fire Department says the crash occurred by East 23rd Street and 1st Avenue in Manhattan. At least 81 people were evaluated by first responders, according to USA Today.
Ishrak Jahan was on the city bus, traveling eastbound, when the crash occurred, telling CBS News that it felt like “an earthquake.”
“The impact felt like it was almost an earthquake. The whole bus was rattling and shaking,” Jahan told the outlet.
BREAKING – USA: A double-decker tour bus collides with a city bus, injuring over 50 people in NYC.
63 people have been injured in the crash, and no life threatening injuries have been reported. pic.twitter.com/YnQTdZtcBr
— Rex Bruck (@REX72217960) July 7, 2023
Bus Crash Felt Like “An Earthquake,” Passenger Says, Several Victims Suffer Broken Bones
Jahan said he heard a woman beside him scream before looking up and seeing “this bus barreling towards us.”
“I heard the lady next to me scream, so I looked up, and I saw this bus barreling towards us … I just saw glass everywhere for a second. I, you know, it was honestly like I was in a movie. It took a couple of seconds for me to snap back to reality when everyone started screaming. I saw blood,” he said.
At least 32 people were reportedly taken to nearby hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries, officials told USA TODAY.
The city bus driver is among those that required medical attention. However, the driver’s condition remains unclear as of Friday.
Most passengers were treated for cuts and bruises. However, several allegedly suffered broken bones. Some also complained of head and neck injuries, New York EMS Division 1 Deputy Chief Paul Hopper told the outlet Friday morning.
Yesterday evening, #FDNY units responded to the intersection of East 23 Street and 1st Avenue for a bus collision. In total 67 patients were evaluated for injuries, 32 of those were transported to local hospitals. All injuries were considered non-life threatening. pic.twitter.com/4lKKwNiYE4
— FDNY (@FDNY) July 7, 2023
FDNY Had Difficulties Extracting Tour Bus Passengers, Unclear If Driver Have Been Cited
Chief Hopper claimed the FDNY had some difficulting extricating victims from the double-decker tour bus,
“We’ve had a few minor challenges in the double-decker bus − going through the windows, taking people out,” Hopper told the outlet.
Meanwhile, no fatalities have been reported as of Friday afternoon (Jul. 7).
According to CBS News, the driver of the tour bus will be “summonsed for allegedly running the red light.”
Additionally, the investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing, according to authorities.
This is a developing story. Be sure to check back in with The Shade Room for more updates as they come.
