WALTHAM, MA - On the evening of November 19th around 10:30 P.M., a bus hired by Brandeis University to take students to a hockey game with Northeastern University crashed into a tree at 800 South Street, only a half mile from the university's entrance.

Waltham’s 911 center lit up with calls for a bus crash with many people on the ground. Engine 4, Rescue 1, and Medics 1 and 2 were dispatched. Weston Fire dispatched Engines 1 and 3, along with Ambulance 1, as they too were receiving multiple calls because of the accident being on the Waltham line.

Engine 4 was first on the scene, and Lt. Matt Kiernan reported multiple victims on the lawn with various injuries and requested a Mass Casualty Incident. His crew then proceeded to extricate several students from the bus and perform CPR on four individuals.

Deputy Brock Rowland requested a full assignment, bringing Engine 1 and Ladder 2. With so many injured, a second-alarm was transmitted which brought in Engines 2 and 3, Squad 5, Tower 1, and multiple ambulances.

One student was pronounced dead at the scene, one student was transported to Lahey Hospital in critical condition, and 27 others were sent to area hospitals.