Driver Says Brakes to Blame in Bus Crash

14 people taken to the hospital after bus careens out of control, flipping several times, police say

More than a dozen people were hurt when the bus they were riding in flipped over several times.

The crash happened just before 3 p.m. Monday along the 2800 block of East Westmoreland Street in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, officials say.

The Del Val Staffing bus was exiting I-95 north at the Allegheny/Castor Avenue off-ramp when the driver lost control, hit a light pole and overturned, officials say.

The bus, filled with 22 people, flipped over and landed on the driver's side in the middle of East Westmoreland Street, according to authorities.

Twenty-one people were hurt in the accident, officials say. Firefighters began treating the injured in a empty parking lot near I-95 as they determined the extent of each passenger's injuries.

Fourteen of the injured were taken to local hospitals for treatment, officials say. One of those hurt were listed in critical condition.

Passenger Brett Cusatis says he was sitting next to the passenger who was critically hurt.

"When I first came out, I was right by where everybody had to exit...and he was on the sidewalk and, uh, he just looked like his head was slit open," he said.

The repurposed school bus was transporting day workers back to Philadelphia from work in Belmawr, N.J. when the crash happened.

The driver told authorities he was having trouble breaking when he lost control.

Philadelphia Police have towed the bus to further investigate the driver's claims.

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