Crash Leaves 3 Dead, More Than A Dozen Injured In Monroe County
MOUNT POCONO, Pa. (CBS/AP) — Authorities in eastern Pennsylvania say a crash between a bus and a tractor-trailer has left three people dead and sent more than a dozen to hospitals.
Monroe County emergency officials say the crash occurred shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday on Interstate 380 in the Pocono Mountain region about 115 miles north of Philadelphia.
The mangled front end of the bus was wedged into the tractor-trailer, which was sheared in half. The cab came to rest on its side in the woods.
Italian Nationals were riding the bus on their way to visit Niagara Falls, according to officials on the scene.
Pennsylvania State Police say a tractor-trailer was traveling south on I-380 and left the roadway in an eastern direction. According to police, the tractor trailer entered the northbound lanes and struck another truck which was traveling in a northbound direction. After initial impact, police say the tractor trailer continued in an eastern direction and a bus, which was traveling in a northbound direction, struck the tractor trailer. After the second impact, police say the tractor trailer continued in an eastern direction and rolled over in the wooded area.
The bus is owned by Academy Bus, which released a statement on Wednesday afternoon:
Academy Bus is actively engaged with local authorities in the investigation of the accident that occurred near mile marker 4 on Interstate 380 in Tobyhanna Township, PA. The chartered Academy Bus left this morning at 7:30 a.m. from the New York metro area bound for Niagara Falls, and operated by an Academy Bus driver with more than a decade of experience behind the wheel.
We can confirm that one of the deceased is the bus driver. We offer our condolences to the family of this valued member of our Academy team, as well as to the families of others tragically affected by this accident. We also extend our thoughts to the injured.
We will provide additional information as it becomes available.
The bus driver has been identified by authorities as 54-year-old Alfredo Telemaco, of New York.
Police say two passengers of the bus were also pronounced dead at the scene.
The remaining passengers of the bus were taken to several regional hospitals for treatment, according to police.
Matt Kislak at the county 911 center says four of the 13 victims were flown to hospitals.
The northbound lanes of I-380 reopened Wednesday evening.
Officials continue to investigate.
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