A deadly collision between a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus and a private tour bus in New York City’s Queens area resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to 16 others, reports the New York Post.
According to reports, the city bus was making a right-hand turn at the intersection of Main Street and Northern Boulevard when it was hit by the private bus, which was going east on Northern Boulevard. The impact caused the city bus to flip, as reported by officials. At the time, the city bus had 15 passengers on it. The private bus, from Dahlia Travel and Tours, then ran into a local restaurant, causing serious damage to the building and starting a small fire inside.
Two people – an MTA passenger and the driver of the private bus – died at local hospitals. The third victim, a pedestrian who was on the sidewalk and was pinned by one of the buses, died at the scene. Out of the 16 people who were injured, five are in critical condition, said Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference. The other injured people are in stable condition, with non-life-threatening injuries.
One of the injured was 56-year-old Kang San, who had stopped for a coffee at a nearby place and was in his Toyota when his car was hit during the collision. His wife, 62-year-old Yung Lim, said her husband was lucky as it could have been worse; he was outside of his car just minutes before the fiery collision. San was treated at Elmhurst Hospital for minor injuries to his back and leg.
Nearby resident Yong Suk Miller said she heard the crash from her seventh-floor apartment, which is right on Northern Boulevard. According to Miller, the impact from the collision caused her building to shake, and she heard a loud “crunching” sound followed by several ambulance and fire truck sirens.
Passerby Jay Rivera was coming from his job when he saw all the lights and sirens, and for a moment, the 52-year-old thought there had been an attack. Rivera noted he’d never seen such a severe accident, with the impact spinning the bus around. He said that a witness told him the two buses collided at full speed. According to Rivera, the emergency crews were using the “jaws of life” to free trapped bus passengers at the scene.
There is no word on the cause of the accident yet, and police are canvassing the entire area for surveillance video of the incident and asking for witnesses to come forward. Representatives from Dahlia Travel and Tours have not yet responded to requests for a statement.
When buses are involved in an accident, the results can be deadly for people on them and anyone else nearby, as the Queens collision shows. These large vehicles can cause serious harm any time they’re involved in a crash because of their sheer size when compared to passenger automobiles. If you have been injured in a bus accident, speak to an experienced bus Accident lawyer trusts today to protect your rights.
