A tire blowout along Interstate 40 in Gonzales, New Mexico is being blamed for a traffic collision that left at least four bus passengers dead on Thursday.
According to a tweet from state police, a semi truck was heading eastbound and crossed into oncoming traffic, striking the Greyhound bus head-on.
Preliminary crash information indicates a semi-tractor-trailer traveling on I-40 EB had a tire blowout and crossed into oncoming WB traffic, colliding with a Greyhound bus.
— NMSP (@NMStatePolice) August 30, 2018
A short time after the initial tweet, the agency provided additional details, including the total number of confirmed fatalities.
#NMSP officers have confirmed at least 4 fatalities from the bus at this time. Many bus passengers were transported with serious injuries. The exact number of injuries is still being investigated. This scene remains active and updated information will be posted here.
— NMSP (@NMStatePolice) August 30, 2018
“#NMSP officers have confirmed at least 4 fatalities from the bus at this time,” the post read. “Many bus passengers were transported with serious injuries. The exact number of injuries is still being investigated. This scene remains active and updated information will be posted here.”
As Fox News reported, the agency continued to provide updates via social media.
Police report a total of 47 passengers were on board the bus headed toward Phoenix, Arizona. Among the casualties were multiple serious injuries and authorities remained on the scene as of the latest updates available.
An investigative team from the National Transportation Safety Board was reportedly en route to the scene.
One witness recounted “screams … coming from the bus,” describing it as a “horrible” scene in which survivors attempted to crawl out of the wreckage.
[Featured image: Fox News Channel, video screenshot]
