Tour Bus In Deadly PA Turnpike Crash Had No Seatbelts

NEW STANTON, PA - National Transportation Safety Board investigators probing the deadly Pennsylvania Turnpike crash that killed five people Sunday already have identified one significant issue: The tour bus in which three of the victims died did not have seatbelts.

Board member Jennifer Hoemendy said at a news conference that it's unknown if the bus driver, Shaung Oing Feng, 58, was wearing a seatabelt but that the bus did not have seatbelts for its passengers. Feng was killed along with Eileen Zelis Aria, 35, and Jaremy Vazquez, 9.

They all were from New York City.

Homendy, who viewed the crash scene, called it "devastating...I imagine if you were in this accident that it was scary."

The crash occurred around 3:3o a.m. Sunday. Homendy said the tour bus lost control after passing a FedEx tractor-trailer, causing it to hit the concrete median barrier and forcing it up an embankment before it rolled onto its side.

The FedEx truck struck the bus, which was blocking the road, as did a UPS truck. A Mercedes Benz and second UPS struck also hit vehicles in the crash. Two UPS drivers from one of the trucks also died in the crash: Dennis Kehler, 48, of Lebanon, and Daniel Kepner, 53, of Lewistown.

Homendy said a preliminary report on the crash could be available in 10 days, but the final NTSB report would not be completed for 18 to 24 months.

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You can view the entire press conference here: