Company that owns bus involved in deadly Orange County crash has no unsafe violations

Friday, September 22, 2023
What we know about bus involved in deadly Orange County crash
The bus involved in a deadly crash in Orange County is owned by Regency Transportation in Nesconset on Long Island and has a clean safety record. Kristin Thorne digs deeper into the investigation.

ORANGE COUNTY, New York (WABC) -- The 7 On Your Side Investigates team is learning more about the bus involved in a deadly crash in Orange County on Thursday.

Two adults were killed and five students were critically injured when the bus carrying high school students from Farmingdale High School went down an embankment on I-84 in Wawayanda.

Preliminary information indicates a failure of a front tire may have been a contributing factor in the accident.

RELATED | High school band director believed to have been killed in Orange County bus crush

One of the two victims killed in the bus crash was identified as Gina Pellettiere, who is listed as the band director on Farmingdale High School's website. N.J. Burkett has the latest details.

The bus was one of six in a caravan taking the marching band, color guard and dancers from Farmingdale High School on a beloved annual trip to a camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania.

Eyewitness News as able to find that the bus is owned by Regency Transportation in Nesconset on Long Island.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation website, the company has a pretty impeccable safety record.

The company had zero unsafe driving violations in recent years and their vehicles overall are very well-maintained.

ALSO READ | Emotions high at Farmingdale High School after bus overturns in Orange County

Students and faculty members of Farmingdale High School react to the disastrous overturned school bus that led to the death of one person. Lauren Glassberg has the latest from the high school.

There are zero critical violations in terms of maintenance and the company has had one crash in the past.

According to the DOT, the company has 14 drivers.

The investigative team has been been reaching out to the company all day. There is a woman answering the phone, but she says she is only an answering service and that someone from the company will get back to us.

According to the company's Facebook page, it has been in operation for 29 years.

The NTSB, in coordination with the New York State Police, is sending a team to conduct a safety investigation into the crash. The team will arrive at the scene on Friday morning.

ALSO READ | 1 dead, 45 injured when bus with LI students overturns on I-84

The bus was carrying students from Farmingdale High School in Nassau County to band camp in Pennsylvania when it overturned in Orange County. Anthony Johnson has the latest.

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