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Bus Crash Victims: Driver Swerved

Survivors recount horrific accident

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 13, 2011 12:07 PM CDT

(Newser) – Survivors and witnesses of yesterday's horrific Bronx tour bus crash are dismissing the driver's story that he was cut off by a tractor-trailer, reports the AP. Passengers have told investigators that he inexplicably swerved to the right various times just before the accident and that no one felt the bus get hit; other motorists have also said they did not see it get hit. The bus hit a road sign that sliced its roof off at what the New York Post calls "face level." Worth noting: While the Journal News reports "the" tractor-trailer in question has been seized, the New York Times simply reports that "a" tractor and trailer have been seized and police are investigating the driver's claims. Gruesome passenger accounts after the jump.

"I saw people split open. It was awful," one passenger tells the Post. "Someone was crying for help . . . One man lost his hands. He was alive when the emergency people took him from the bus. People were crying. People were screaming . . . I saw a lot of death." Another tells of the driver checking a woman's pulse, screaming, "She died. She died. Forget this one, help another one!"

The World Wide Tours tour bus after it was sliced by the exit sign on Interstate 95 south in the Bronx early Saturday, March 12, 2011.
The World Wide Tours tour bus after it was sliced by the exit sign on Interstate 95 south in the Bronx early Saturday, March 12, 2011.   (AP Photo/ABC)
Emergency personnel respond to the bus crash on Interstate 95 in the Bronx borough of New York, Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Emergency personnel respond to the bus crash on Interstate 95 in the Bronx borough of New York, Saturday, March 12, 2011.   (AP Photo/WABC-TV 7)
Emergency personnel investigate the scene of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx borough of New York Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Emergency personnel investigate the scene of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx borough of New York Saturday, March 12, 2011.   (AP Photo/David Karp)
Emergency personnel load two of the victims of a bus crash on Interstate 95 in the Bronx borough of New York, Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Emergency personnel load two of the victims of a bus crash on Interstate 95 in the Bronx borough of New York, Saturday, March 12, 2011.   (AP Photo/WABC-TV 7)
Emergency personnel load two of the victims of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx borough of New York, Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Emergency personnel load two of the victims of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx borough of New York, Saturday, March 12, 2011.   (AP Photo/WABC-TV 7)
Emergency personnel investigate the scene of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx borough of New York Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Emergency personnel investigate the scene of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx borough of New York Saturday, March 12, 2011.   (AP Photo/David Karp)
Emergency personnel investigate the scene of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx borough of New York Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Emergency personnel investigate the scene of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx borough of New York Saturday, March 12, 2011.   (AP Photo/David Karp)
Emergency personnel investigate the scene of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx borough of New York Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Emergency personnel investigate the scene of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx borough of New York Saturday, March 12, 2011.   (AP Photo/David Karp)
New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly speaks with emergency personnel investigating the scene of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx, Saturday, March 12, 2011.
New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly speaks with emergency personnel investigating the scene of a bus crash on Interstate-95 in the Bronx, Saturday, March 12, 2011.   (AP Photo/David Karp)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 4 comments
Disillusioned
Mar 13, 2011 11:22 PM CDT
A new American pass-time? The Great Bronx Death Tour, decapitations made to order
passinthru1
Mar 13, 2011 1:49 PM CDT
So why is the Westchester Journal News reporting that they have a tractor trailer impounded and the driver has undergone questioning? It would be nice if the Newser staff did just a little more investigating. Most of the people on the bus were asleep at the time. "State police have a criminal investigation under way and on Saturday night said the tractor portion of the truck had been located and seized in Westchester. The trailer portion was found and seized on Long Island." "The truck driver was being interviewed." - From lohud.com
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New York City • accident • Bronx • bus accident • bus crash • tour bus crash

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