[08/25] Bus crashes into NYC building, shears off part of it; 6 hurt

August 25, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) – A casino bus crashed into a three-story brick building Monday, sheering off a large part of the structure and injuring six people, authorities said.

The Resorts World Casino bus, swerving to avoid hitting a car, struck the building that houses a law office at about 2:30 p.m. in the Rego Park section of Queens. The vehicle came to a stop on the sidewalk behind the building.

The driver of the bus was cut from the wreckage, and four others onboard were injured, fire officials said. At least one person in the building was injured. Two other people at the scene refused treatment and all of the injured were expected to survive, officials said.

Fran Ferraro, a receptionist at Professional Mortgage Solutions Inc., said her office shook when the bus struck.

“It was like an explosion,” she said. “We were like four doors away.”

The front of the bus was demolished and the front window was out. Rescuers combed through the rubble of bricks and siding.

“I think everyone got out OK,” Ferraro said. “God was on somebody’s side today.”

A spokesman for the casino said the company’s thoughts and prayers were with the injured and the company was cooperating with the investigation. The casino did not say how many people were on board or where the bus was headed when it crashed.

Resorts World Casino, based in Queens, bills itself as the most successful racetrack casino in the world, and it offers a free shuttle bus service at several pickup locations around the five boroughs. The buses are operated by a contractor based in Brooklyn who didn’t return a call seeking comment.

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This story has been revised to show New York officials updated their injury count to six people, not at least nine.

AP