Carbon County, PA : Passenger dead after crash involving Forks Twp. company's bus on Route 209 in Franklin Township on Wednesday morning, May 4, 2016

A passenger aboard a transit bus operated by a Forks Township-based company was pronounced dead after a crash Wednesday morning.

Easton Coach Co. says the crash occurred about 9 a.m. on Route 209 in Franklin Township, Carbon County, involving one of its buses contracted by Carbon County Community Transit. The second vehicle was a refrigerated utility van.

A second passenger on the bus was injured and taken to an area hospital, as was the bus driver as a precaution, according to the company.

"We are also aware that the driver of the other vehicle sustained significant injuries, but we don't know anything more about his condition at this time," Joe Scott, president and CEO of Easton Coach, said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

Carbon County Coroner Robert Miller Jr. said the the passenger was pronounced dead at the crash. His office was continuing to reach out to next of kin late Wednesday afternoon and had not publicly identified the victim. An autopsy is scheduled Thursday to try to determine cause and manner of death.

Franklin Township police investigated the crash, and Pennsylvania State Police at Lehighton assisted with traffic control. The curvy stretch of road where the crash occurred is a little more than a mile east of the Mahoning Valley interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension (Interstate 476).

Scott, from Easton Coach, said he was saddened to report the fatality.

"Our thoughts are with the affected families and friends of everyone involved and we are indebted to the local authorities for acting quickly to care for those who were injured," he stated. "We are working closely and cooperating with law enforcement, state and local authorities in the investigation into this tragedy.

"Presently, this is all of the information that we have to share. We will provide updates as additional information becomes available and it is appropriate to do so."

Source :
Passenger dead after crash involving Forks Twp. company's bus