5 dead, dozens injured in Pennsylvania crash involving bus traveling from Rockaway to Ohio
MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP, PA (Westmoreland County) – A passenger tour bus traveling from Rockaway, New Jersey to Cincinnati, Ohio crashed along the Pennsylvania Turnpike early Sunday morning, according to Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Stephen Limani.
The crash happened at around 3:33 a.m. on the westbound side of the Pennsylvania Turnpike at mile marker 86.1, state police said.
According to Limani, the passenger bus was travelling on a downhill curve and was unable to negotiate a corner. The bus then then struck an embankment, overturned and was struck by two tractor-trailers traveling behind it.
The two tractor-trailers were then struck by a tractor-trailer. A passenger car was also involved in the crash, Limani said.
Five people were killed and approximately 60 people suffered non-life threatening injuries. Two of those 60 people are in critical condition, Limani said.
Limani said the bus, which most of its passengers spoke Japanese or Spanish, was operated by Z & D Tours which according to records is located at 350 Route 46 suite 131 in Rockaway. The NTSB said on Sunday they couldn’t confirm if the bus actually left Rockaway and they would have a “firm” answer on Monday.
A phone call to the business went unanswered.
The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a team of 13 to assist with the crash investigation.
