LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP Pa. (WHTM) — Three people were killed and more than 40 others injured after a charter bus from New York overturned on Interstate 81 late Sunday night in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County.
It happened around 11:45 p.m. Sunday near mile marker 74, which is between the exits for Linglestown/Paxtonia and Manada Hill.
Pennsylvania State Police say that a Honda CRV was stopped in southbound traffic in the right lane of Interstate 81. At the same time, the bus was negotiating a right curve in the right line of the highway.
State Troopers say that the bus exited the north side of the roadway and entered the grassy roadside, struck an embankment, and overturned onto its right side before coming to a rest in the shoulder and roadside. The right roof area struck the rear end of the Honda CRV, which came to rest within the right shoulder.
State Police have said all of the people on board were taken to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center with injuries ranging from minor to critical. About eight ambulances and Life Lion helicopters assisted in getting those people to the hospital. The driver of the Honda CRV was also taken to Hershey Medical Center with suspected moderate injuries, according to State Police.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center says they received 28 patients from the crash. As of Tuesday morning, 27 people were discharged and one remained as an inpatient.
Hershey Medical Center says the ages of their patients ranged from 1 to 69 years old and five were under the age of 18.
UPMC Community Osteopathic says they treated 21 patients from the crash. Two people have been admitted to the hospital and 20 were treated and released.
Once people are released from the hospital, they will be taken to the Chambers Hill Fire Company where they can be reunited with their loved ones.
Volunteers from the American Red Cross were also on-site at the Chambers Hill Fire Company, helping comfort passengers and providing refreshments and cots to rest on. The center, which assisted 25 people, has since closed.
Police would not say where the bus was headed, saying they wanted to make sure that the families of the victims were notified first. The names of the three people killed have not been released.
The southbound lanes of I-81 were closed for several hours overnight as police worked to clear the area. The road reopened shortly before 6 a.m.
This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 news on-air and online for updates.
