Overview
- The coach bus crashed Monday night around 11:45 p.m. near Exit 16 in Maspeth after first striking vehicles on the westbound side, hitting the center median, and flipping into eastbound lanes.
- Authorities said the bus driver and one passenger were pronounced dead at the scene and about 20 people were taken to nearby hospitals with several in critical condition.
- Royal Jordanian confirmed the bus was carrying crew from Flight RJ8261 and that one member of the airline’s crew was killed while other crew were injured and receiving care.
- More than 70 fire and EMS personnel responded, the Long Island Expressway was closed in both directions for hours and lanes were reopened after wreckage was cleared.
- The NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad is leading the probe with the NTSB assisting, investigators are collecting evidence and notifying families, and media reports about the driver’s past remain unverified.