Overview
- The crash began late Monday when a westbound coach bus struck other vehicles, hit the central concrete divider and flipped into eastbound traffic at Exit 16 near Greenpoint Avenue.
- First responders pronounced the 35-year-old bus driver and a male passenger dead at the scene and about 20 people were reported injured with several in critical condition.
- Roughly two dozen bus passengers and other injured people were taken to Bellevue, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens and Elmhurst Hospital Center for evaluation.
- More than 70 fire and EMS personnel and multiple NYPD units responded, closing the Long Island Expressway in both directions for hours before crews cleared primary wreckage and reopened some lanes.
- The NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is leading the probe and the crash — especially the median breach — could prompt reviews of barrier performance and bus operating safety.