While there were no fatalities reported in the serious bus crash that shut down part of the New York State Thruway between exits 40 and 41 in Cayuga County- two people remain hospitalized.
State troopers say two of the 57 that were initially hurt in the wreck are in critical condition.
Victims were taken to three hospitals after the wreck- including Auburn Community Hospital, Crouse Hospital, and Upstate University Hospital.
The crash happened in the westbound portion of the Thruway as the bus traveled from Poughkepsie to Niagara Falls.
Dr. William Paolo, Interim Chair of Emergency Medicine at Upstate described a chaotic scene as patients rolled in to the hospital. “You had medical students, next to chaplains, next to the president of the university all there specifically to make a difference in a couple people’s lives,” he told CNYCentral.
Injuries ranged from moderate to serious. “Everybody came in specifically just such that we could be there for 26 people who were having their unexpected, worst day of their life,” he added.
Auburn Community Hospital also received a bulk of patients from the crash. It’s a 17 bed facility, and in a matter of two hours- the hospital had 30 patients. “All these patients showed up in approximately two hours. So, for a small community that has 17 beds and get an influx of approximately 30 patients is a significant problem for us, but we handled it with expertise,” Dr. Timothy Cobb told CNYCentral.
The investigation into the crash remains active. Anyone who witnessed it is asked to call 315-539-3530.
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