DEADLY CRASH ON I-40
Four people were killed and multiple others injured Thursday afternoon when a Phoenix-bound Greyhound bus crashed with a semitruck on Interstate 40 in New Mexico, police said.
The New Mexico State Police said via Twitter that it appeared a tire blew out on an eastbound semitruck, causing it to veer into westbound traffic and crash into the bus, shortly before noon. The crash occurred near Thoreau, New Mexico, about halfway between Albuquerque and Gallup.
Video and photos from the scene posted to social media show significant damage to the bus’s front third.
Greyhound officials confirmed in a statement that the bus originated in St. Louis on Wednesday morning, had stopped in Albuquerque and was heading to Phoenix.
Information about the bus posted on the company website said the bus had stops scheduled in Grants, New Mexico; Gallup; Holbrook; Flagstaff; Glendale; and Phoenix, where it was scheduled to arrive at 4:25 p.m.
A schedule board at the main Phoenix Greyhound station Thursday afternoon showed the bus’ arrival time still posted, though the arrival time was listed as a few minutes after 4:30 p.m.
The final scheduled destination was Los Angeles, where it was expected to arrive at 12:55 a.m. Friday.
Greyhound spokeswoman Crystal Booker said the company is cooperating with the local authorities.
“Our first priority is taking care of our passengers and their families as this incident has deeply impacted all involved.” she said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone as we continue to give our support to all affected.”
Information on how many people were scheduled to get off the bus in Phoenix or Glendale was not immediately available.
The crash closed off the westbound lanes of the interstate.
State police said passengers were taken to local hospitals, but did not say how many people were injured.
ABC News reported, quoting authorities, that more than 33 patients had been taken to local area hospitals with injuries; some were in critical condition
Around 5:40 p.m., the University of New Mexico Hospital confirmed to The Arizona Republic that five patients had been admitted and five were en route. Their conditions were not available.
Eric Huff was heading to the Grand Canyon with his girlfriend when they came across the crash, the Associated Press reported.
Huff said the semi’s trailer was upside down and “shredded to pieces,” and the front of the Greyhound bus was smashed, with many of the seats pressed together. Part of the bus’s side was torn off, he told the AP.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it will investigate the crash.