3 Killed, 15 Injured When Tourist Bus Crashes In Pennsylvania

TOBYHANNA, Penn. — A tractor-trailer plowed head-on into a bus full of Italian tourists Wednesday morning in Monroe County, killing three people, injuring at least 15 others, and leaving more than a dozen passengers trapped in the wreckage for hours.

The crash occurred in Tobyhanna near mile marker 4 on Interstate 380, about a mile north of the Mount Pocono exit, at about 10 a.m.

In addition to the three people killed, many of those taken to the hospital were knocked unconscious from the impact, according to multiple reports.

The bus was operated by the Academy Charter company, and was headed from the New York metro area to Niagra Falls, according to Academy spokesman Brian Dickerson.

“The chartered Academy Bus left this morning at 7:30 a.m. from the New York metro area bound for Niagara Falls, and was operated by an Academy Bus driver with more than a decade of experience behind the wheel,” the company said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

“We offer our condolences to the family of this valued member of our Academy team, as well as to the families of others tragically affected by this accident. We also extend our thoughts to the injured. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.”

The Xpress tractor-trailer was traveling southbound when it evidently crossed the median and hit the bus, according to multiple media reports, including WNEP.

It is unclear what caused the tractor-trailer to cross the median.

Its driver has been identified as Franklin Wyatt of Oklahoma, and he is being treated at Geisinger-CMC in Scranton, WNEP says.

Photos of the truck around social media early Wednesday afternoon showed it sheared into two pieces, with the cab of the truck at the bottom of a ditch on the side of the road.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the many victims of the tragic bus accident that occurred today in Monroe County. ... God be with them,” Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of the Diocese of Scranton posted on Twitter.

Twelve people were still trapped on the tour bus at 12:01 p.m., and two remained stuck at 1:30 p.m., according to reports.

At least two people were airlifted from the scene, officials confirmed.

Two patients were taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, and one was in critical condition, Geisinger said at about 1:20 p.m.

Eight people were taken to Pocono Medical Center, where medical personnel scrambled to locate translators to assist in caring for the injured.

All eight were Italian, and all were treated and released on Wednesday.

Several agencies were dispatched to the scene from Lehigh and Northampton counties, officials confirmed.

Even though the crash happened in the northbound lanes, the highway was closed in both directions immediately following the accident.

One southbound lane was opened just after 2 p.m. The northbound lanes did not upon again around 9:45 p.m.

This is a developing story. Please refresh the page and check back for more information as it becomes available.

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