Transportation Company in Fatal New York Bus Crash on State’s “Unacceptable Operators” List

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – The transportation company that owns the charter bus involved in a tragic accident in New York, resulting in the deaths of two adults and injuries to multiple high school marching band members, had been placed on the state’s most recent list of “unacceptable operators” due to multiple safety inspection failures last year.

Despite having valid operating authority and a proper semi-annual inspection, Regency Transportation LTD, as confirmed by the New York State Department of Transportation, faced issues when it failed five out of 15 safety inspections during the state’s 2023 fiscal year.

At a news briefing, officials revealed that the accident involved 44 people, including four adults and 40 students, who were en route to a band camp in Pennsylvania. The tragic incident occurred when the bus, part of a caravan transporting students from Farmingdale High School, rolled down a 50-foot embankment off Interstate 84, northwest of New York City. Two adults, Gina Pellittiere (43) and Beatrice Ferarri (77), lost their lives in the accident, and as of the briefing, at least five students were listed in critical condition.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her condolences, acknowledging the profound impact on the affected families.

The investigation into the crash, led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is ongoing, with an estimated duration of five to seven days. John Humm, overseeing the NTSB investigation, emphasized that it was too early to determine if passengers were wearing seat belts or establish the cause of the crash, though preliminary findings suggested a potential front tire failure as a contributing factor.

Regency Transportation, also referred to as Regency Buses, operates eight vehicles with 14 drivers and is based in Nesconset on Long Island. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration inspection records list the company as Regency Transportation LTD. Over the past two years, the company underwent 42 vehicle inspections, resulting in 25 violations. Records show that Regency reported a previous two-vehicle crash involving one of its buses on Long Island last year, causing an injury and vehicle towing, but no citations were issued to the bus driver.

While some of the violations cited against Regency, such as inoperable brake lamps and emergency exits, were considered minor, the company’s out-of-service rate of about 33% (five out of 15 inspections) in 2022-23 led to its placement on the state’s “unacceptable operators” list for the Department of Transportation bus safety program. Under state guidelines, any bus operator with an out-of-service rate exceeding 25% is classified as “unacceptable.” Approximately 48 operators were listed as “unacceptable,” while about 200 were considered “acceptable.” Over 1,200 operators were classified as “preferred” due to having out-of-service rates below 10%.

Safety expert Carl Berkowitz noted that buses that pass inspection must also adhere to a safety checklist as part of commercial driver requirements. He cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the causes of accidents, citing the numerous factors involved, such as driver error, distractions, vehicle defects, and road conditions.

The ongoing investigation seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the tragic crash.