On September 21, 2023, a bus carrying the Farmingdale High School marching band to a camp in Pennsylvania crashed on Interstate 84 in rural Orange County, killing two adults and injuring several students. The deceased were identified as retired teacher Beatrice Ferrari, 77, and band director Gina Pellettiere, 43, who was known by the nickname “Miss P” among marching band members. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but tire failure may have been to blame.

The families of the victims and injured students have filed lawsuits against the Farmingdale school district and Regency Transportation, the company that owns the bus involved in the deadly crash. The lawsuits allege negligence on the part of the school district and the bus company, including failure to ensure the bus was “safely and properly owned” and failure to properly train personnel in safety procedures.

The Farmingdale community has come together to mourn the loss of the beloved teachers and support the injured students. Visitation and funeral services were held for the deceased, and students and staff at schools across Long Island wore green to show support for Farmingdale High School.