A police cruiser crashed into two school buses on Route 32 Thursday, sending a police officer, a bus driver and four students to the hospital.

Eyewitness Pedro Pagan says he was in his parked car at around 2:30 p.m. when he saw the officer drive into oncoming traffic on North Plank Road, side-swiping both buses and badly damaging one. The officer sustained severe injuries and was taken from the scene by a medical helicopter.

The driver of one of the buses and four students from the Newburgh Free Academy suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.

Police closed off Chestnut Lane and Route 32 for the investigation.

The Associated Press has contributed to this story.

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