A horrifying accident unfolded on Thursday night when a school bus, carrying 45 students, crashed off Interstate 84 in the town of Wawayanda, Orange County. The devastating incident resulted in one fatality, leaving nearly all the passengers hospitalised, with five in critical condition, local authorities confirmed.

The victim who lost their life in the accident, identified as Daniel Minerva, was tragically ejected from the vehicle during the crash, according to Daniel Minerva, the boss of the ambulance service Empress EMS. However, further details about the deceased were not disclosed.

The incident occurred during the early afternoon as the bus, part of a convoy transporting students from Farmingdale High School on Long Island to a band camp in Greeley, northeastern Pennsylvania, veered off the road and came to rest on its left side on an embankment. The damage to the bus’s roof was extensive, as depicted in photographs from the scene.

Rescue operations were challenging, with responders employing ladders to reach the windows and extricate survivors. Emergency services, including a medical helicopter, rushed to the crash site, located approximately 45 miles northwest of New York City.

While three individuals were transported to Westchester Medical Centre, their conditions remained undisclosed, as hospital spokesperson Andy LaGuardia explained. Additionally, two other regional hospitals received injured passengers, but specific information about their conditions was not available at the time of reporting.

The Farmingdale School District released a statement, explaining that students on the other buses in the convoy were scheduled to stop at a community college for a break before continuing their journey back to Long Island. Grief counsellors were made available to assist students traumatised by the accident.