On Sunday, August 6, 2023, a charter bus traveling from New York to Ohio crashed on Interstate 81 outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, killing three passengers and injuring several others. The fatal bus crash took place around 11:50 p.m. amid heavy rainfall on the southbound side of I-81 at mile marker 74 in Lower Paxton Township, PA.
The crash report states that the bus veered off the road, collided with an embankment, rolled onto its right side, and hit the back of a Honda passenger car stopped in the right lane. Three bus passengers were pronounced dead at the scene while others sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe. Authorities say the Honda occupants were also hospitalized with what appeared to be “moderate injuries.”
Matthew Oshiafi, a passenger on the bus operated by the Super Lucky Tour Company of Boston, told members of the media about the moments before the accident. Oshiafi, who was seated in the last row, reported hearing a loud screeching noise before the bus flipped over. He witnessed people being thrown from their seats and piling on top of one another.
One couple seated nearby had a baby, and Oshiafi noticed that the woman appeared to be unconscious. The man handed the baby to Oshiafi, who then passed the infant through the broken windshield to emergency responders.
A total of 28 patients, ranging in age from 1 to 69, were treated at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, with three being admitted and one in critical condition. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Community Osteopathic treated 21 patients. Nearly all of the injured victims were discharged by Monday, though one remained.
A reception center run by the Red Cross, located at a nearby fire company, provided support to 23 adults and two children, offering food and emotional assistance. The center closed late Monday.
Serigne Ndiaye, Alioune Diop Identified as PA Bus Crash Victims
The deceased victims have been identified as Serigne Ndiaye, a 26-year-old man whose residence is unknown, and Alioune Diop, a 39-year-old man from the Bronx, New York according to the Dauphin County Coroner's Office. The third victim's information has not been released, pending notification of next of kin.
What Caused the Bus Crash in Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania?
The cause of the Pennsylvania bus crash is currently under investigation. It will be months before we know whether negligence was involved. Investigators will interview the bus driver, passengers, and any other eyewitnesses to better understand what happened. They will also evaluate maintenance records for the bus for any anomalies. While most bus crashes involve human error like driver fatigue or inattention, buses occasionally experience some kind of mechanical failure that can cause a crash.
The bus was owned and operated by Super Lucky Tour Company. According to government records, a Super Lucky Tour Company bus was involved in a previous crash that caused injuries. The circumstances of the previous crash and the severity of the injuries are unknown. Peter Chan, the manager of Super Lucky Tour Company, expressed his condolences after the fatal crash but did not have additional information. The driver, who sustained injuries in the crash, remains hospitalized, preventing Chan from obtaining further details.
ABC27 in Pennsylvania evaluated crash data on I-81 between exits 70 and 80, the same stretch of highway where the Lower Paxton Township accident occurred. More than 400 auto accidents occurred on that stretch of highway between 2018 and 2022, according to government data. Roughly 1 in 5 crashes resulted in injuries.
Bus Crash Lawyers With Proven Track Record
Over the last 30 years, Wisner Baum has handled over 100 bus crash cases for victims and their families. In one case, we represented 27 passengers from a single bus accident and obtained justice and compensation on their behalf.
Our decades of experience in high-stakes litigation include cases against many of the nation’s largest bus companies, including American Stage Lines, American Tour and Leasing Co., Bluebird, Ford Motor Company, Greyhound, San Diego Metropolitan Transit, Sky Express, Inc., and many more.
Some of our case results include:
- $20 Million Bus Crash Verdict: Wisner Baum senior partner Timothy A. Loranger served on the trial team in a case stemming from a 2015 crash in Seattle, Washington between a commercial duck boat vehicle and a charter bus. After a four-month trial, the jury returned a verdict awarding $123 million in damages to 43 plaintiffs. Our clients in the case received $20 million in damages. The verdict was recognized in Courtroom View Network’s (CVN) Most Impressive Plaintiff Verdicts for 2019.
- $10 Million Bus Crash Settlement: We negotiated a bus accident settlement worth approximately $10 million on behalf of children who were severely injured in a school bus crash.
- $6.2 Million Bus Accident Settlement: Our team of lawyers successfully negotiated a $6.2 million settlement stemming from a fatal bus crash.
Across all areas of practice, Wisner Baum has won over $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Our firm knows what it takes to take on big cases and win, no matter the corporate defendant. Put your case in the hands of proven litigators. Call us today toll-free at 855-948-5098 or fill out our free and confidential case evaluation form to learn more about your legal rights.
