A double-decker tour bus and a city bus collided on a New York City street Thursday evening — sending 27 people to the hospital while another 50 were treated at the scene, authorities said.
The sight-seeing tour bus crashed into the back of an MTA express bus on East 23rd Street and First Avenue in Manhattan at about 7:15 p.m., FDNY officials said.
The tour bus seemingly blew a red light and slammed into the X27 bus, which was carrying about 20 New Yorkers onboard, according to an MTA official.
Luckily, none of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries, the authorities said.
A double-decker tour bus and a city bus collided on a New York City street Thursday evening. Robert Mecea
After the crash, 27 people were sent to the hospital while another 50 were treated at the scene. Robert Mecea
The tour bus seemingly blew a red light and slammed into the X27 bus. Robert MeceaBoth buses were packed at the time of the crash — leading to a high number of passengers being evaluated.
“Anytime you have two buses involved, you have a significant number of patients that likely need to be treated — so seeing that quantity of people right away, I think the units did a very good job of getting them off the bus quickly and taking them to the appropriate resources,” FDNY Deputy Chief Kevin Murphy said at the scene.
Many of the injuries were minor cuts, bruises, and scrapes. Some, however, suffered fractures and head and neck injuries, EMS Deputy Chief Paul Hopper added.
“We’re all quite fortunate it was not much worse,” Hopper said.
Murphy said that the bus consisting of two levels complicated the rescue efforts as firefighters had to break open windows and use ladders and ropes to get passengers down from the top level of the double-decker bus.
The open-deck bus is run by the tourism company TopView. Robert Mecea
The sight-seeing tour vehicle crashed into the back of an MTA bus. Robert Mecea
FDNY had to break open windows and use ladders and ropes to get passengers down from the top level of the double-decker bus. Robert Mecea
Many of the injuries were minor cuts, bruises, and scrapes. Some, however, suffered fractures and head and neck injuries. Robert MeceaThe driver of the sight-seeing bus reportedly sped through a red light ahead of the collision, according to New York City Transit President Richard Davey.
“There were 20 New Yorkers on the X27 just trying to get home this evening — plus our bus operator — when this tour bus behind us seemed to have blown a red light and T-boned our bus,” Davey said. “…And as I understand, it was going so fast, it actually hit it twice.”
He added that the MTA bus operator, a 15-year-veteran of the agency, who was driving the Bay-Ridge-bound bus was OK.
“A good operator was banged up, but with no life-threatening injuries, thank goodness,” Davey said. “But [it] certainly was a harrowing moment for him and you know, a harrowing moment, frankly, for the another 26 or so, passengers on on the big bus behind us.”
“There were 20 New Yorkers on the X27 just trying to get home this evening — plus our bus operator,” New York City Transit President Richard Davey said. Robert Mecea
Both buses were packed at the time of the crash — leading to a high number of passengers being evaluated. Robert Mecea
The tour bus driver was issued a summons, according to police sources. Robert MeceaThe tour bus driver was issued a summons, according to police sources.
The open-deck bus is operated by the tourism company TopView — which offers a variety of bus tours around the city.
The bus company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment and when reached by phone, an employee who answered had not yet heard about the crash.
