PEMBROKE, N.Y. Five people were killed and numerous more were injured when a tour bus carrying 54 people from Niagara Falls back to New York City crashed and rolled on an interstate highway on Friday, according to authorities.
About 25 miles east of Buffalo, on Interstate 90, close to Pembroke, the bus reportedly lost control. The windows broke and people inside were thrown out.
Trooper James O. Callaghan, a spokesman for the New York State Police, stated that children were on board and that there were numerous fatalities, entrapments, and injuries at this time.
According to O Callaghan, the bus was heading east when it entered the median and ended up in a ditch on the right side of the road. According to him, the majority of the passengers were Chinese, Filipino, and Indian.
The driver has not died. He is collaborating with us. Without going into any detail, O Callaghan stated, “We think we have a good idea of what happened, why the bus lost control.”
People were evacuated from the crash site by Mercy Flight’s three helicopters and three additional helicopters from different agencies, according to the medical transport agency. More than 40 persons were checked or treated by hospitals in the area. The injuries included shattered limbs and legs as well as head damage.
Dr. Jeffrey Brewer, chief of surgery at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, said two patients who required surgery were expected to recover.
The tour bus is full-size. Significant damage, O Callaghan stated. We had so many people evicted from this bus because, I assume, the majority of passengers did not wear seat belts.
A 2023 bus accident in New York prompted the state to enact legislation requiring charter buses built on or after November 28, 2016, to use seat belts. It wasn’t immediately clear how old the bus was when it crashed on Friday.
According to the New York State Thruway Authority, a significant portion of the road has been closed in both directions, and motorists are being advised to stay away from the area.
After passing the collision, Powell Stephens of Medina told The Buffalo News that there was glass everywhere and that people’s belongings were scattered everywhere. Every window was broken.
On the social media site X, New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that her office was collaborating with local authorities and police after being informed about the terrible tour bus accident.
