Nearly a dozen people were hospitalized Tuesday morning after a passenger bus rolled onto its side along the New York State Thruway in Ulster County.
The crash happened at approximately 7:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes near Plattekill, forcing a partial closure of the highway for several hours. The roadway did not fully reopen until around 3 p.m.
New York State Police said 23 passengers were aboard the Wanda Coach bus at the time of the crash.
Ulster County Emergency Services Commissioner Everett Erichsen said 11 people were transported to local hospitals. Six of those passengers suffered injuries described as moderate.
Photos from the scene showed the large bus lying on its side beside the roadway as emergency crews worked to help those aboard.
Several Good Samaritans stopped to assist before and during the emergency response, including uniformed military personnel who helped passengers at the scene.
A replacement bus was eventually sent to continue the trip to New York City, although only a small number of passengers reportedly chose to board it after the frightening rollover.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the crash.
State police said investigators were examining whether weather conditions may have played a role.
One passenger, however, told CBS News New York that a truck sideswiped the bus and forced it off the highway.
“It pushed us off the highway,” said the 43-year-old Brooklyn resident, who provided images from the scene. “People were screaming. People were injured — bleeding, bruises. I’m lucky to be alive, period.”
Police have not independently confirmed the passenger’s account.
State investigators are using specialized technology to reconstruct the crash and determine exactly what happened in the moments before the bus overturned.
The investigation remains ongoing.
