I-95 Bus Crash: Police Say Preliminary Cause Determined, Dozens Injured

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — A charter bus taking children on a field trip from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., flipped on Interstate 95 near Havre de Grace Monday morning, injuring more than two dozen people, authorities say. As a result of the crash, I-95 south was closed in the area for nearly five hours.

Based on preliminary investigation, police said that the driver of a passenger car — only identified as a Maryland man — moved into the fast lane to pass the bus before 9:30 a.m. When he switched lanes, he lost control of his car and drove off the left side then returned to the road and crossed all three lanes of traffic, clipping the front of the passenger bus, according to officials.

Witnesses reportedly told authorities that the driver of the blue Honda Civic had been trying to pass the bus when he hit the front of it, and police said that the investigation was ongoing.

Police said charges against the driver of the passenger car would be withheld pending the outcome of the investigation, after consulting with the Harford County State's Attorney's Office.

Once it had been hit, police said the bus went off the right side of the interstate, hit an embankment and struck a tree before it rolled onto its left side, coming to rest on the right and middle lanes of I-95.

The crash occurred around 9:30 a.m. past the exit for MD 155. I-95 south was not cleared until after 2 p.m.

All 30 people aboard the bus — including 26 children — were taken to area hospitals for medical evaluations, Maryland State Police reported. The driver of the passenger car refused treatment at the scene, police said.

By Monday evening, WBAL reported that all but five children and one teacher had been released from hospitals around the region.

Photo by Susquehanna Hose Company.

While police said all bus passengers were taken for medical evaluations following the crash, first responders from the Susquehanna Hose Company reported that at least 25 were injured when the charter bus flipped.

The bus had been transporting students on a field trip from C.W. Henry School in Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. Those on the bus included 26 eighth grade students, two teachers, one parent chaperone and one driver, according to Philadelphia Schools Superintendent William R. Hite.

One student and one teacher were seriously injured, he said. The student was airlifted to Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. He said the teacher was taken to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

The injured were sent to five different hospitals, according to Hite, who said several children had been released as of Monday afternoon.

Delays stretched for miles after the crash on Interstate 95.

The highway was temporarily closed in both directions to allow for two medevac helicopters to land, causing traffic jams from Aberdeen to Perryville.

Before 11 a.m., lanes on I-95 north reopened, following the departure of the two medevacs.

I-95 south was closed near Havre de Grace for police investigation for several hours.

There was a 3-mile delay for southbound travelers after noon, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority, which said I-95 south traffic was detoured at MD 272 in Cecil County. Drivers were advised to avoid the area and to take US 40, MD 7 or US 1 as alternate routes.

I-95 south reopened at approximately 2:15 p.m.

Information For Families

Family members may call 410-838-5800 for information about those involved in the crash who were taken to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air and Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre de Grace.

The University of Maryland reported that most of those admitted to its facilities after the crash had minor injuries.

Philadelphia school administrators encouraged those seeking information about their loved ones to call 215-400-5858 for information.

Close-up of charter bus from Susquehanna Hose Company. Still photos from CHART traffic camera. Vertical image of overturned vehicle from the Maryland Department of Transportation.