Passenger Killed in Bus Accident in Tompkins County

Photo by AP Photo

DRYDEN, NY (WENY) -- A transit bus crash in Tompkins County on Wednesday ended with the driver and several passengers hurt, and one person suffering fatal injuries.

According to the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to an accident involving a First Transit bus that had hit a tree on West Lake Road in the town of Dryden around 2:30 p.m. The driver, along with five passengers were on the bus.

Authorities say four of the passengers were taken by Cayuga Medical Center to be evaluated for injuries. The driver was airlifted to Robert Packer Hospital with serious injuries. One passenger, identified as 63-year-old Kevin Welch of Cortland, was pronounced dead at Guthrie Cortland Hospital.

The cause the the crash is under investigation.