(NECN: Julie Loncich, Boston) - It was a chaotic scene on Soldiers Field Road in Boston's Allston neighborhood Saturday night as emergency crews rushed to the aid of trapped passengers when on a coach bus heading to Pennsylvania hit an overpass.
"Soldiers Field Road heading inbound, the top of the bus caught the bridge on Western Ave," Boston Fire Acting Chief Ron Harrington said.
Upwards of 38 students and chaperones on a collegiate bus tour in a Calvary Coach bus from Pennsylvania were on board the bus at the time of the crash. Official say they had just left Harvard University and were traveling eastbound back to Philadelphia when the bus driver missed a posted height clearance sign.
"Several patients trapped, some of whom were able to be freed relatively easily and they were ambulatory," Boston EMS Deputy Super Ed Hassan said.
Boston EMS used the jaws of life to peel back the roof of the bus. A total of 34 were injured; of those injured, three people have serious injuries and one passenger has life-threatening injuries. The bus driver was uninjured, and Massachusetts State Police are investigating as to whether or not charges or citations may follow.
In the meantime, the structural integrity of the Western Avenue bridge is in question, and the clean up indefinite.
"Storrow Drive is going to be remain closed for the immediate time. There is going to be some difficulty removing the bus as it is in between two bridges," Mass. State Police Captain Paul DaMore said.
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This particular area of the road is expected to be closed indefinitely; meanwhile, crews are on the scene trying to hoist the bus up off the road with the use of a crane.
Those injured were taken to Beth Israel Hospital and Brigham and Womens Hospital. The patient suffering from life threatening injuries is being treated at Boston Medical Center.
