
A charter bus carrying students returning from a spring break trip struck a bridge overpass on Long Island Sunday evening, injuring 43 passengers.

New York State Police confirmed 37 suffered minor injuries, five serious and one very serious.

The mass casualty incident, that sliced the roof off of the bus, occurred at approximately 9.08pm on the Southern State Parkway in Lakeview.

Major David Candelaria confirmed further details about the accident in a statement to the press.

'A commercial bus, owned by Journey, bus lines from Irvington, New Jersey, was traveling eastbound on the Southern State Parkway, where it struck the Eagle Avenue overpass,' Candelaria said.

'In the bus, there was one driver, five chaperones and 38 students, ages 16-18 years old,' the officer said.

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New York State Police confirmed 37 suffered minor injuries, five serious and one very serious. The bus wreckage is seen above

'A commercial bus, owned by Journey, bus lines from Irvington, New Jersey, was traveling eastbound on the Southern State Parkway, where it struck the Eagle Avenue overpass,' Major David Candelaria said

A bus crashed on the Southern State Parkway Sunday evening. The bus struck an overpass at a little after 9pm in Lakeview

All eastbound lanes were closed, state police said. Passengers and emergency officials are pictured at the scene above

Police said the bus was carrying dozens of teenagers and adults. Some are seen above covered in blankets while waiting outside

Traffic moving in both directions was stalled following the incident, as fire and police officials inspected the bus and scene.

The roof of the charter bus was seen in photos destroyed after the vehicle slammed into the low overpass.

Passengers were also seen covered in blankets as they waited outside.

The charter bus had been traveling from John F. Kennedy International Airport to the Walt Whitman Mall in Suffolk County.

The charter bus had been traveling from John F. Kennedy International Airport to the Walt Whitman Mall in Suffolk County

Police confirmed the individual operating the bus has a valid driver's license. The driver is under review

Investigators look over a bus that was carrying teenage passengers after it hit an overpass on the Southern State Parkway

NY State Police Major David Candelaria releases details about the crash in a Sunday night press conference

Police officials investigate the scene of the crash on Sunday night. 43 people were injured

Traffic was halted from both directions after the mass casualty incident on Sunday evening

The bus was traveling eastbound on the Southern State Parkway, where it struck the Eagle Avenue overpass

The students were returning from their spring break vacation in Europe. The trip was not organized by school officials.

'The trip was part of EF Education Tours... as far as injuries, this was treated as a mass casualty incident,' Candelaria added.

'I give credit to the Nassau County Police Ambulance Bureau, Emergency Services Unit and the Lakeview Volunteer Fire Department.

'They set up a mass casualty treatment triage and probably saved lives.'

Police confirmed the individual operating the bus has a valid driver's license. The driver is under review.

The investigation is in its preliminary stages. Further information will be released as it becomes available.