'She had to crawl out': New York woman faces long recovery after tour bus crash
A family member of one of the victims of a early Thursday morning in upstate New York, which left 28 people injured, is speaking out about the terrifying incident.
Emergency crews responded around 7:10 a.m. to 490 West, just west of Union Street, near the Chili-Riga town line, for a report of a tour bus flipped with people trapped.
Patients were distributed to four local area hospitals. The University of Rochester Medical Center said 16 patients were being treated at Strong Memorial Hospital — one in critical condition with some with significant injuries— and a number of patients are set to be released soon.
Rochester Regional Health said it treated 15 bus crash patients at Unity and Rochester General Hospital. Three patients were transferred to Strong.
Michelle Key said her daughter-in-law, Montriel Humble, 21, was one of the passengers injured in the crash.
"She's not doing well," Key said. "She has to get like five different surgeries, so it's just really bad. I thank God for her life though. I'm glad she's alive."
Key said Humble is in the Air Force and was taking the FlixBus Tour Bus to Niagara Falls to report for duty.
She had to crawl out of the bus, and she called me on the phone saying she needed to get to the hospital," Key said. "My son is a nervous wreck. I was in tears just seeing her. We are thankful she is alive, but it's still an experience you never want to experience.Dr. Michael Kamali, URMC's chair of emergency medicine, said patients are facing a variety of injuries.
"Head injuries, extremity injuries, some injuries to the torso as well," Kamali said. "As you can imagine, in a crash, what we call blunt trauma, the injuries can be extensive."
Key said Humble has a long recovery ahead of her.
"She is an outstanding person, just beautiful spirit inside and out," Key said. "When you get on a bus, you'd think you'd be safe from stuff like this."
Monroe County's Office of Emergency Management is also assisting those involved in the crash and Visit Rochester secured a hotel for impacted individuals and families.
Those looking to track down family members on the bus can call 753-4455.
