One person died and several were injured when a bus coming from Montreal and carrying several Canadians overturned Friday on a New York state highway.
The crash occurred shortly before 1 p.m. on the Adirondack Northway – or Highway 87 – in the town of Lake George, according to state police, who say it involved a Skyway tour bus Coach Line.
A video broadcast by local media showed a coach lying on its side on the shoulder of the road.
The bus, which was carrying 23 people, including the driver, was heading to New York, about 180 miles south.
New York State Police confirmed that one of the bus occupants died while a passenger was transported by helicopter to Albany Medical Center in critical condition.
Twelve other passengers were taken to Glens Falls Hospital with minor injuries, said Ray Agnew, a hospital spokesman.
Several Canadian passengers
The dozen other passengers, several of whom speak French and are from Canada, were transported to a fire station not far from the scene of the accident where they were questioned by the authorities, the spokesperson said. -Warren County Speaker Don Lehman.
“According to them, the majority of the occupants of the bus were from Canada,” he explained, specifying that some of them had dual Canadian and American citizenship and that at least two passengers came from Switzerland .
The American Red Cross offered passengers accommodation if necessary at the Fort William Henry Hotel in Lake George, where meals were provided, Don Lehman added.
The spokesperson was not able to specify whether any passengers were residents of Montreal.
In a press release, the New York State Police asked for the public’s help in finding witnesses to the accident. “We are also asking the public to check if they have surveillance camera videos that could have recorded the incident,” indicates the police force.
The damaged bus was identified as having been chartered by the FlixBus company. The company confirmed to several media outlets that the bus was initially heading to downtown Manhattan as planned, but had no further information to release.
Politicians react
Gov. Kathy Hochul said police and Department of Transportation employees were at the site. “I join the people of New York State in praying for the well-being of everyone involved in this horrific event and am deeply grateful for the heroic efforts of our first responders,” she said earlier. in a press release.
“I would like to thank the first responders who did an exceptional job in accompanying and rescuing the passengers and I send my most sincere condolences to the family of the deceased,” said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
New York State Senator Chuck Schumer also reacted to the accident on X.
“I am closely monitoring developments regarding a tour bus rollover on I-87. I want to thank the brave first responders on scene and pray for everyone involved,” he said.
With the Associated Press