Bus crashes into building in Maryland, injuring 33: 'Like a war scene'

A bus slammed into a building in a crash that involved several other vehicles and sent nearly three dozen people to hospitals in Maryland on July 8, authorities said.

The Baltimore County Fire Department received reports of the bus crash shortly before 6 p.m. on July 8, Fire Chief Joseph Dixon told reporters. It happened on the 1500 block of Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, a community of about 34,000 people just outside Baltimore City.

Photos show the bus crashed into the corner of a building containing a FedEx Office print and ship center, with debris scattered around the sidewalk and street. Several cars were also seen with heavy damage, with one flipped over in the street. About a dozen vehicles were involved, Dixon said.

"It's more like a war scene," Dixon said, calling the incident "significant."

A second-alarm mass casualty event was declared, the fire department said. One person was trapped in the bus and another was trapped in a car. A critical patient was extricated at 6:47 p.m., the fire department said. A total of 33 people were transported for medical attention. Authorities didn't say how many patients were in the bus or cars, and whether anybody inside the building was injured.

Dixon said most injuries were minor, but at least one person had to be airlifted after being extricated from the scene. Over 100 first responders were involved in the response and rescue, Dixon said.

The fire department also said wires were down because of the crash. All lanes of Maryland Route 140, on Reisterstown Road, closed due to the crash and were reopened at about 3:05 a.m. July 9, the Maryland State Highway Administration said.

The cause of the crash was unknown the evening of July 8 and was under investigation, Dixon said.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he was monitoring the crash.

"Dawn and I are keeping everyone impacted in our hearts and prayers. We are deeply grateful for our first responders who acted with speed and skill to ensure the safety of our neighbors. We've been in close coordination with local officials to provide any support needed on the ground," Moore said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bus crashes into building in Maryland, injuring 33: 'Like a war scene'

Reporting by Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 7:51 AM.