In Middletown, New York, a tragic accident occurred when a charter bus carrying high school students on their way to a band camp veered off the highway and rolled down an embankment. This devastating incident claimed the lives of two adults and left several others with serious injuries.
The bus was part of a convoy transporting students from Farmingdale High School on Long Island, including members of the marching band, color guard, and dancers, to their annual camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania. The accident happened around 1 p.m. on Interstate 84 in Wawayanda, Orange County, just 30 minutes from their destination. According to Governor Kathy Hochul, a tire failure might have been the cause of the bus veering off the road.
Tragically, the two adults who lost their lives in the accident were the high school’s band director, Gina Pellettiere, aged 43, from Massapequa, and retired teacher Beatrice Ferrari, aged 77, from Farmingdale. State police reported that five of the 44 passengers on board were in critical condition and hospitalized.
Fifteen-year-old Farmingdale student Anthony Eugenio, who was on the bus, described the terrifying moment when the bus started tipping. He initially thought it was a dream or a nightmare, but then he felt the bus rolling. As chaos unfolded around him, with fellow passengers injured and covered in blood, he managed to crawl out through a window, sustaining minor scrapes and bruises. The bus had flipped over, leaving it on its left side with a warped roof.
Governor Hochul revealed that the bus had tumbled about 50 feet down a steep slope in the median between the eastbound and westbound lanes of the highway. Rescuers had to use a ladder to reach the windows of the bus.
The annual September trip to band camp is a cherished tradition at Farmingdale High School, involving students from the band, color guard, kick line team, and adult chaperones. Some years, more than 300 students attend the trip to practice and enjoy their time in rural Pennsylvania.
The crash occurred approximately 30 miles from Pine Forest Camp, their intended destination. Many of the students on the bus were freshmen, according to Governor Hochul, who praised their resilience.
The remaining students on the other buses returned to Long Island later in the day, while the injured were treated at six different area hospitals. Anthony Eugenio, reflecting on the traumatic experience, couldn’t believe it was real as the bus tumbled. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman asked for prayers for the injured, emphasizing the need for support during this difficult time.
