13 People Dead, Many More Injured in Bus Crash on I-95 … Bus Returning to NYC from a Connecticut Casino

HORRIFIC …

Thirteen are dead and many others a critically injured as a bus charter company World Wide Tours flipped over and crashed on I-95  in the Bronx, NY this morning returning to new York City  from the the Connecticut casino The Mohegan Sun. The bus was sliced in half by the support pole for a large sign as the crash occurred on the southbound side of I-95.

The sign post sheared off the top of the bus along the windows for nearly two-thirds of the bus’ length.

As many as 31 people were on board the bus. The bus, operated by the charter company World Wide Tours, was headed to Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood carrying a full load of passengers returning from the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn.

 According to the driver, who survived the crash, he lost control of the bus while trying to evade a swerving tractor trailer. The operator of the trackter trailer did not stop after the accident and is presently being sought by authorities.

The early morning wreck left a scene of carnage and closed the southbound side of Interstate-95 for hours while emergency workers attended to critically injured survivors and removed bodies.

The bus, operated by the charter company World Wide Tours, was headed to Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood carrying a full load of passengers returning from the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn.

According to the driver, the accident was triggered by a close encounter with a tractor trailer as the two vehicles were entering the city at 5:35 a.m. The bus was in one lane. The truck was in the lane to its left.

“The truck either starts to swerve or perhaps even hits the bus,” Kelly said. He said both vehicles were moving at “a significant rate of speed.”

New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly Describes Deadly NY Bus Crash and those Deceased & Injured

UPDATE I: 14 people now dead from this mornings bus crash.

UPDATE II: NBC-NY is reporting that several passengers who survived the bus crash told police the bus driver was driving erratically down I-95 before the accident took place. Did the driver fall asleep at the wheel?