2 Dead, Including Farmingdale HS Band Director, In Bus Crash (2024)

Five were critically injured. The bus, carrying the marching band, was on its way to band camp in Pennsylvania.

Posted Thu, Sep 21, 2023 at 3:04 pm ET|Updated Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 3:11 pm ET

Gina Pellettiere, 43, of Massapequa, the director of the high school's marching band and wind ensemble, was killed in the crash, Lt. Col. Richard Mazzone of the state police said.

Beatrice Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale, a retired teacher, also died in the crash, Mazzone said.

Five students were critically injured, Mazzone said.

Of the 44 people on the bus, 40 were students, Mazzone said.

A faulty front tire "likely" caused the crash, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. The bus tumbled down a 50-foot ravine, she said.

"Imagine the fear, the screams, and the aftermath, when these high school students, many of them freshmen, were surrounded by this chaos," Hochul said. "But they endured. They were strong."

The injured were taken to six nearby hospitals, police said.

Shaun Jacobs, a freshman at Farmingdale, said he knew many students on the bus that overturned. One of his friends, he told Patch, was airlifted.

"I couldn’t believe what happened," Jacobs said. "Nothing like this has ever happened. It was crazy. I feel so bad for the people who were on the bus. I pray that everybody’s OK. It was devastating."

Wenael Jean-Baptiste, a freshman at Farmingdale High School, knows some of the victims.

"I felt nervous," he said. "I just wanted to pray for my friends and check up on them. One of my friends got lifted up in the helicopter. It’s just a tragic situation. It’s just devastating."

Jean-Baptiste was in the hallway when his friend started crying and showed him the photo of the bus crash.

"I started bursting out in tears," Jean-Baptiste said.

"We are all Dalers tonight as our collective hearts are with the tight-knit Farmingdale community as we pray for our neighbors impacted by this horrific accident," Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. "We ask that all Long Islanders keep the students, families, and fellow Dalers in their prayers."

Injured students from the bus were taken to Orange County Community's Diana Physical Education Building in Middletown for reunification, the Farmingdale School District said in an update. Students from the other five buses headed back to Farmingdale. They stopped at Orange County Community College first for the chance to stretch and meet with grief counselors.

A statement from the Westchester Medical Center Health Network said that Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital and Westchester Medical Center are currently providing care to 12 patients from Thursday’s crash in Orange County. Of those patients, three are in serious condition and nine are in good condition.

The state Department of Transportation said the crash occurred at 1:30 p.m. on I-84 westbound at Exit 15A/B (I-84) - Middletown - Goshen (US 6 - Rouote 17M) (Wawayanda).

State police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or the bus before the crash to contact the New York State Police at Troop F Headquarters at 845-344-5300. Police are asking the public to check if they have any dash camera videos that may have recorded the incident. The passing lane on Interstate 84 westbound near mile marker 11 is closed because to a follow-up investigation.

Hochul earlier directed New York State Police and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to the crash site.

"We are grateful for the first responders whose speedy action saved lives and we will continue to support them however necessary," Hochul said in a statement. "Our hearts are with all who are impacted by this horrific situation."

The bus was roughly an hour away from its destination before the crash.

"We pray for the students, families, teachers, and all those affected by this terrible tragedy in Upstate New York," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman posted on Facebook. "May God heal those hurt in the accident."

Nassau County mobilized all resources to assist.

"Hug your children very tight," Blakeman said. "Life is precious. Our kids started out today thinking they would have a wonderful weekend with their friends."

Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand said he and the village board are "deeply saddened by the news of this tragic event."

"We want to convey our support to the children and families along with school personnel," Ekstrand said.

Orange County Emergency Management said that I-84 is closed in both directions between Exit 1 and Exit 15 until further notice. It is anticipated it will be closed for several hours. They advise finding alternate routes.

New York State Sen. Steve Rhoads said he and his office were "horrified" to learn of the bus crash.

"I’ve reached out to the district to offer our full support," Rhoads said. "Let us join together as one family to keep the Farmingdale students, families and community in our prayers."

This is a developing story so check back with Patch for updates.