Bus Carrying School Band Members Crashes in New York, Killing 2, Injuring Dozens

Two people were killed and 40 others were injured when a bus carrying students to a band camp ran off a highway and rolled over in New York State Thursday.

The governor of the state said preliminary indications are that a front tire on the charter bus may have been at fault, causing the driver to lose control and slam into the ravine next to Interstate 84 in Wawayanda, north of New York City, according to multiple news reports.

The New York Times reported that the bus was operated by Regency Transportation of Nesconset, New York. The driver was licensed and the bus had passed a recent inspection.

The 44 passengers were high school band members, mostly freshmen, from Farmingdale School District on Long Island. The deceased were identified as Gina Pellettiere, 43, the band director; and Beatrice Ferrari, 77, a chaperone who previously taught at the school and was a friend of Pellettiere, NBC News reported.

Five students were in critical condition Thursday evening.