A bus carrying students from Farmingdale High School on Long Island crashed in Orange County, New York, on Thursday, Sept. 21, according to a spokesman for the school.

(CNN) -- Two adults were killed and several students injured after their bus "fell down a 15-meter embankment" Thursday on Interstate 84 in Orange County, New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a news conference.

The commercial bus was carrying 40 Farmingdale High School students and four adults, New York State Police Lt. Col. Richard L. Mazzone said during the news conference.

Mazzone identified the two people who lost their lives: Gina Pellettiere, 43, and Beatrice Ferrari, 77.

There were several serious injuries, five of them in critical condition, Mazzone reported Thursday night. He did not elaborate on the injuries, but said they were transported to six area hospitals. Earlier, a Wawayanda Fire Company official told CNN that more than 40 people were injured in the crash.

"Preliminary information indicates that a front tire failure may have been a contributing factor to this accident," Mazzone added. The investigation into the accident is ongoing.

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Authorities responded to the crash around 1:12 p.m. Thursday, according to Governor Hochul.

Dozens of students were injured in the crash, an emergency medical services company said. Credit: WCBS

The bus was one of six headed to a band camp in Pennsylvania, the Farmingdale school district said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

The New York State Police will hold a briefing on the bus crash Thursday night.

"We were informed that there was an accident with Bus 1 en route to Greeley, Pennsylvania, for the band camp," Farmingdale High School spokesman Jake Mendlinger told CNN. "Police and first responders are on site, as well as the district administration. We will provide another update when more information becomes available."

The bus was on its way to a musical event for a band camp, a school spokesman said. WCBS

I-84 is closed at exit 15A with detours, state police said, adding, "Westbound Interstate 84 is expected to be closed for several hours."

At his news conference, Hochul called Thursday "a day of horror" and said the state was mourning the tragedy.

"Certainly, today there are families who are in mourning," he said. "We have families, we have a school, a school district, a county and, in fact, an entire state that is in mourning right now."

CNN's Jessica Xing, Zenebou Sylla and Maria Sole Campinoti contributed to this report.