SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Police: NYC Terror Suspect Strikes School Bus

Two children and two adults on a school bus are injured in the deadly truck attack in New York City that authorities are calling an act of terrorism.

Thomas McMahon
Thomas McMahonExecutive Editor
November 1, 2017
Police: NYC Terror Suspect Strikes School Bus

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O'Neill discuss the Tuesday truck attack that killed eight people and injured at least a dozen others. Screenshot from NYC press conference video

2 min to read


NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O'Neill discuss the Tuesday truck attack that killed eight people and injured at least a dozen others. Screenshot from NYC press conference video

NEW YORK — Four people on a school bus were injured in the deadly truck attack in New York City on Tuesday, police said.

The incident occurred just after 3 p.m. New York Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill said in a press conference that a 29-year-old man driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck entered a bike path in Manhattan’s West Side and struck multiple pedestrians and cyclists. The truck then collided with a school bus, injuring two children and two adults who were on board.

Ad Loading...

Video footage from a bystander at the scene shows the bus, a Type A model, with a massive indentation in the right side.

O’Neill said that after the truck driver struck the school bus, he left the vehicle, “brandishing two handguns.” A police officer confronted the suspect and shot him in the abdomen. The subject, whose identity was not immediately released, was wounded and transported to a hospital. O’Neill noted that a paintball gun and a pellet gun were recovered at the scene.

In the press conference, New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said that six people were pronounced dead at the scene, and two others died at the hospital. At least twelve people suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

“The injuries are what you may expect as a truck went at high speed down that bicycle path and struck bicyclists and pedestrians,” Nigro said.

Authorities described the attack as terrorism.

Ad Loading...

“Let me be clear [that] based on the information we have at this moment, this was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in the press conference.

Carmen Fariña, chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, also issued a statement about the incident on Tuesday.

“Today there was an act of terrorism in close proximity to several schools in lower Manhattan,” Fariña said. “We stand with the entire city as we mourn this senseless loss of life. We are grateful to the first responders and school staff who work tirelessly to keep our schools and communities safe. Ongoing guidance and trauma counselors will be provided across schools to those in need tomorrow.”

The New York City Police Department and the FBI are investigating the attack.

More Safety

Graphic titled "NSC Award Winners" featuring two group photos of National Safety Council award recipients. One group holds an "Our Driving Concern Employer Traffic Safety Award" banner, while the other poses with a recognition plaque at the 2026 Texas Traffic Safety Conference.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettAugust 4, 2026

How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs

Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.

Read More →
A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Read More →
Graphic for a School Bus Fleet news story featuring the NASDPTS logo, a speaker presenting with a microphone, and the headline, "38.4 Million Stop-Arm Violations," highlighting annual illegal school bus passing estimates.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettJuly 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic illustrating a fatal school bus incident in New York, featuring a close-up view of the front of a yellow school bus with a cracked-glass overlay and the headline, "7-Year-Old Fatally Struck in New York," dated July 9, 2026, alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJuly 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

Read More →
School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJune 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

Read More →
zonar system image
SponsoredJune 22, 2026

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Promotional graphic for a new Pro-Vision AI camera system. The image shows a monitor displaying camera views with AI object detection overlays, along with multiple cameras and recording hardware. Text reads "New Product," "Pro-Vision," and "Visibly Better." School Bus Fleet logo appears in the lower-right corner.
SafetyJune 11, 2026

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System

The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.

Read More →
A New York school bus in the street.
Safetyby Elora HaynesJune 9, 2026

N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students

New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.

Read More →
Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.
SafetyJune 8, 2026

America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse

Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 29, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate

Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.

Read More →