Bus Heading To Bucks County Hits Overpass In Boston; Dozens Injured
By Jericka Duncan, Dan Wing and Andrew Kramer
BRISTOL TWP., Pa. (CBS) - Massachusetts State Police say nearly three dozen students and their adult chaperones from a Bucks County High School were injured when their charter bus crashed into a bridge in Boston as the group made their way home from a visit to Harvard University.
Authorities say the bus crashed around 7:30 Saturday night as it passed under a bridge on Soldier's Field Road as the group began their trip home to Bristol Township. Officials say the height of the overpass was clearly marked.
"A lot of the damage (to the bus) is from the extrication of the patients, but there is significant damage to the bus from the bridge," Massachusetts State Police Officer Captain Paul D'Amore said.
Police say 34 of the 42 passengers on board were injured. Three of them were seriously injured and one suffered life threatening injuries. Some passengers were trapped for hours as firefighters had to get on top of the bus and try to pull them out.
"All of a sudden it just went black," this passenger said. "I heard something, but it all happened so fast and it was like all of a sudden black."
The student passengers were from a non-profit group called Destined For A Dream, that provides after school and enrichment programs for young people.
Curtis Hill is the husband of Erica Waller-Hill, who founded Destined For A Dream:
"We did hear the majority of the students on the bus are OK, but we did hear that, obviously, there were some not-so-well ," he told Eyewitness News. "In a situation like that, a very traumatic situation, it's very rough and I'm just grateful it wasn't a lot worse than it was."
The injured victims were taken to Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women's, and Beth Israel Deaconess. Some of the victims being treated for minor injuries were released from the hospital already.
Authorities say the bus did not belong on that road and state police are investigating whether charges are warranted against the driver after apparently failing to see the sign prohibiting the vehicle from taking that route.
The bus company had no immediate comment.
