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 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 →
Emergency response personnel assist participants evacuating through the rear emergency door of a yellow school bus during a hands-on safety training exercise at Prosper ISD. Smoke fills the bus interior as responders demonstrate emergency evacuation procedures.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMay 21, 2026

Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas

Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.

Read More →
BusPatrol cameras on the side of a school bus.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsMay 6, 2026

Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards

After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A group of people in business attire pose for a photo in front of a school bus, with text reading "Legislative Roundup: May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 6, 2026

School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes

From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.

Read More →