Wawayanda, NY – Two Killed, Over 40 Hurt in Bus Collision on I-84

Wawayanda, NY (September 21, 2023) – Two adults lost their lives and 40 others suffered injuries after a bus occupied by students was traveling to band camp in PA from New York. Reports show the incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at around 1:15 p.m. 

The victims who lost their lives were identified as Beatrice Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale, and Gina Pellettiere, 43, of Massapequa.  The bus reportedly fell down a 50-foot ravine off of Interstate 84, under circumstances still being investigated by police. 

Five students were in critical condition after the collision and dozens more were hurt. Police in Wawayanda continue to investigate the circumstances of the collision. 

We want to offer our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased victims at this time. We hope for the full recovery of the injured parties.

New York Bus Accidents

Commercial buses were involved in about 5% of all large vehicle crashes throughout the nation in 2005. Approximately 14% of all large vehicle wrecks in the Empire State involved buses that same year. A study conducted concerning bus crashes for that same period revealed that a total of 40 buses were involved in 39 accidents that ended in serious injuries and fatalities.

Research also showed that, in approximately 50% of those crashes, the bus driver or company was partially responsible. The most common causes listed for bus wrecks usually include: 

• Speeding
• Illegal lane changes
• Illegal turns
• Driver distraction
• Failing to remain on the roadway during lane changes
• Defective brakes
• Tailgating

Public carriers such as bus drivers have a professional duty to adhere to the utmost standard of care while operating their vehicles. Bus companies are responsible for maintaining their vehicles in proper working condition to guarantee the complete safety of their passengers. If bus drivers do not adhere to these safety rules and regulations, they can risk their own lives and the lives of their passengers, as well as their jobs as bus drivers. Driver negligence is a serious and common problem throughout the nation, taking the lives of tens of thousands of people per year and injuring over 2 million individuals annually. 

After a severe bus crash, those with injuries may be hospitalized for days or weeks while they attempt to recover from their accident-related injuries. The economic, physical, and emotional damages of any traffic accident are often cumulative. Injured crash victims and their family members should not need to fight to recover from their injuries. If you or someone you love were recently hurt in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you should be able to recover without worrying about going broke. A personal injury lawyer can help you file a personal injury claim so you can get the financial compensation you need and deserve during this difficult time. An attorney can also help hold negligent parties accountable so they are less likely to put others at risk in the future.

Those who sustain injuries in bus crashes often need ongoing medical care that may last for months or longer. These treatments can be extensive and expensive and take up a lot of time, money, and energy. In horrible situations, sometimes, injured victims may even end up losing their lives. The surviving family members of deceased crash victims may be eligible to collect compensation for funeral costs and more when they file a wrongful death claim. Contact an experienced bus attorney in New York at  (800) 469-6476 to find out what compensation you could be entitled to if you or a loved one suffered injuries in a commercial bus accident.