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Tour bus crashes on I-490 in Rochester, New York, injuring dozens

An accident involving an overturned tour bus on Interstate 490 in Chili on Thursday morning left 28 people injured – one of them critically.

Here's what we know about the single-vehicle accident on the highway:

What caused the bus crash on I-490 in Rochester, New York?

Monroe County sheriff's deputies are investigating the accident in which the westbound motorcoach overturned on the highway near Union Street in Chili around 7:10 a.m. It was not immediately known why the bus crashed or what caused it to overturn, Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said at a mid-morning news conference at the scene. The first officers on the scene found the bus on its side, turned 180 degrees, with two people still inside and numerous injured passengers walking across the highway “in a state of confusion,” he said. “It was surreal.”

How serious were the injuries in the bus accident on I-490?

A total of 28 people on the bus were transported to area hospitals with minor to serious injuries. A passenger suffered serious injuries and was one of two people removed from the bus by first responders, said CHS HealthCare Director Frank Manzo, who led emergency response at the scene.

Baxter said deputies are concerned about the most seriously injured passenger. That passenger, one of more than a dozen injured people taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, underwent emergency surgery Thursday, according to a hospital official.

Chief Deputy Michael Fowler noted that all passengers on the bus – 27 adults and one child – were transported to area hospitals. Many of the passengers suffered minor injuries and were expected to be treated and released Thursday, officials said. More than 100 first responders were called to the scene – including 18 ambulances from Monroe and Genesee counties, authorities said during the news conference. The New York State Police also provided assistance at the scene.

How to check passengers involved in a bus crash in Rochester, New York

Monroe County Sheriff's deputies are asking the passengers' families to call the MCSO Family Liaison Office at (585) 753-4455 for more information about their injured loved ones.

Where was the tour bus going?

The bus was en route to Niagara Falls and had just stopped in Rochester to drop off passengers before the accident, Fowler said.

The FlixBus bus – operated by the Tribal Sun Bus Company in Massachusetts – left New York City around midnight and headed northwest, stopping in communities along the highway throughout the morning, Baxter said.

More: The tour bus crash near Rochester is one of several in New York since 2002: The List

How long will I-490 be closed?

A portion of the highway's westbound lanes were expected to remain closed well into Thursday afternoon while Monroe County sheriff's deputies investigated at the scene. The closure will occur between Exits 3 and 4 on I-490.

The eastbound lanes were closed for more than two hours after the crash but reopened around 9:45 a.m., officials said.

What about the bus driver?

The driver was cooperative at the scene, Fowler said, adding that officers had no reason to believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. The driver was also taken to an area hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Fowler said that because of the nature of the accident, the mass casualty is being treated as a criminal investigation, “not because we believe any criminal offense was involved,” but to ensure that the accident involved a commercial vehicle and more than two dozen passengers thoroughly examined.

Statement from FlixBus

FlixBus issued a statement about the crash on Thursday morning:

“We are aware of the accident near Churchville, NY. Our team actively works with the bus operator to understand the details and provide necessary assistance to passengers. Please note that FlixBus is not a bus company; All timetables are operated by external bus companies. We will continue to seek updates from the bus operator and authorities as the investigation progresses. We have no further information to share at this time.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks out

New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement Thursday morning following the tour bus crash.

“This morning a large bus carrying several passengers overturned on I-490 west of the city of Rochester. State Police and the Department of Transportation are on scene and coordinating rescue operations with local first responders. To allow first responders to do their jobs, I-490 is closed in both directions between Exits 4 and 3 and drivers are encouraged to find alternate routes. I join the people of New York in praying for the well-being of everyone involved in this serious incident and am deeply grateful for the heroic efforts of our first responders.”

What's next?

Officers will interview the driver and passengers on the bus, collect and examine evidence at the scene, including video footage from cameras on the bus. They will also take the bus to a secure facility to inspect and evaluate the bus. Bus and company records are also checked. Fowler said he expects a “lengthy investigation.”

Includes reports from staff writers Emily Barnes and Kerria Weaver

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