Two killed after bus carrying dozens of school band members crashes off highway and plunges into ravine

22 September 2023, 09:32

The bus plunged down the embankment
The bus plunged down the embankment. Picture: Alamy

By Will Taylor

Two women have been killed as a bus carrying a high school band tumbled off a highway and into a ravine in the US.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Dozens of others were injured, up to six critically, after the coach suffered a problem with a faulty front tyre as it travelled on a highway in New York state on Thursday.

Two adult women were killed after the bus crashed.

It was carrying four adults and 40 students - most aged 14 or 15 - who were on their way from Farmington High School in Long Island to Pennsylvania. They were travelling to a band camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania.

Read more: Jeremy Hunt warns Keir Starmer's EU stance could 'unpick Brexit' and worry Leave voters

The crash happened on the Interstate 84 near Wawayanda, north west of New York City.

Photos showed the blue bus on its side, caught on trees at the bottom of an embankment.

A ladder has been raised to the vehicle to help those onboard get off.

The bus plunged down the embankment on an interstate
The bus plunged down the embankment on an interstate. Picture: Alamy

One of the victims was Gina Pellettiere, 43, of Massapequa in Long Island. She was a faculty adviser who worked on Farmington's school band programme.

The other was Beatrice Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale.

Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, said a "faulty front tyre" was at least partly to blame but the exact cause was still being investigated.

"Imagine the fear, the screams in the aftermath. These high school students, many of them freshmen, were surrounded by this chaos," she said.

"A bus that literally tumbled down a 50ft ravine within minutes. It's extraordinary."

"While it's preliminary, it's likely that a faulty front tyre contributed to the accident. Although, again, this is still under investigation," she added.

"That's a preliminary determination."

The bus was one of six taking about 300 pupils to Greeley.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Portuguese police will carry out a new search this week at the request of German authorities investigating the 2007 disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann.

Madeleine McCann prime suspect gloats about freedom from behind bars as major new search begins near his house

Exclusive
Disposable Vape Ban Flouted: Why Regulation Without Enforcement Falls Flat

'Regulation without enforcement falls flat': UK disposable vape ban already failing

Exclusive
Steve Reed said he'd go for a dip in the Thames.

Environment Secretary says he would have ‘no problem’ swimming in treated sewage water in the Thames

Exclusive
The Environment Secretary was speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari during Call the Cabinet

Thames Water 'facing difficult situation' as £4bn rescue deal collapses, Steve Reed tells LBC

Sharron Davies said the canoeist needs to make a choice between his sport and OnlyFans

Olympian Sharron Davies says canoeist in OnlyFans row faces tough choice between sport and 'very good money'

Dr Florian Willet, an assisted dying advocated, has died using a suicide pod.

Suicide pod activist takes his own life with assisted dying device after 'trauma' of murder arrest

Relatives and loved ones of Palestinians, who lost their lives after Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd gathered at an aid distribution point in the Al-Alam area of Rafah, mourn for their deceased ones at Nasser Medical Complex

At least 24 people killed by Israeli fire while waiting for aid, Gaza health ministry reports

House prices could rise due to new mortgage rules.

New mortgage rules could slash deposits for first-time buyers but add £19k to average house prices

Crystal Palace have lifted their first-ever trophy

Crystal Palace to meet UEFA officials as club risks being kicked out of Europa League after historic FA Cup victory

Erin Patterson (right) departs from the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Woman accused of using poison mushrooms to murder in-laws opens up about broken marriage

Police will reportedly search a house near the holiday resort where prime suspect Christian Brueckner previously lived.

Fresh Madeleine McCann search begins as cops scour area near prime suspect's home after tip-off

A report from Cancer Research UK found people are now more likely to get cancer than decades ago, but are less likely to die from the disease.

Cancer deaths fall by over 20% in 50 years – but cases continue to rise, report warns

This year, the cost of a minimum retirement living standard for a one-person household has decreased by £1,000 per year to £13,400

Cost of minimum retirement falls by £1,000 amid lower energy bills and changing expectations

The legal dispute between the two stars began in December 2024, when Lively alleged that Baldoni created a toxic environment during filming, causing “severe emotional harm” to her and her family

Blake Lively moves to withdraw emotional distress claims against Justin Baldoni amid legal battle

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is shown a new autonomous drone, the "StormShroud" during a visit to a defence contractor on May 2, 2025 in Bedfordshire, England.

‘The kit of the future’ - Lasers, drones and AI part of plans to get Britain back to ‘war-fighting posture’

The plates have a reflective coating, which prevents them from being identified by police cameras

Ministers urged to crack down on 'ghost plates' letting criminals dodge police cameras