A tragic incident occurred when a tourist bus carrying 54 individuals overturned while returning from Niagara Falls to New York, resulting in the confirmed deaths of five people.
The accident took place on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, as the bus was headed east and nearing the Pembroke exit.
State police spokesperson James O’Callaghan reported that the bus lost control, veered into the median, overcorrected, and ended up in a ditch on the right side of the road.
The accident also involved a tractor-trailer. O’Callaghan confirmed that “the bus did roll,” although the reason for this remains unclear.
A witness, Powell Stephens, told The Buffalo News about the scene, describing “glass all over the road and people’s stuff all over the road,” and noting that the bus’s “windows were all shattered.”
O’Callaghan further explained, “It’s a full-size tour bus. Heavy amount of damage.” He noted that most passengers were likely not wearing seat belts, contributing to the high number of ejections from the bus.
Emergency responders, including Mercy Flight, employed helicopters and ambulances to transport injured passengers to hospitals. Multiple victims were admitted to Erie County Medical Center, according to reports from the Independent.
New York State Police announced on August 22 that the westbound lanes had reopened, and translators were present at the scene to assist passengers, who mostly originated from China, the Philippines, and India.
The ongoing investigation seeks to clarify why the bus rolled into the ditch. O’Callaghan mentioned they are examining the driver’s role in the incident for further insights.
O’Callaghan stated, “The driver is alive and well. We’re working with him. We believe we have a good idea of what happened, why the bus lost control.”
Police noted that children were transported to the hospital, but no serious injuries were reported among them.
In a statement, the NYSP confirmed that 54 people, ranging from ages 1 to 74, were on the bus, and five fatalities were recorded. The remaining 49 passengers sustained injuries and were taken to local hospitals.
A total of 24 passengers received care at a Buffalo hospital, with 20 of them still being treated in the emergency department.
Erie County Medical Center’s chief of emergency medicine, Dr. Jennifer Pugh, noted that two individuals were in surgery, and others were admitted to the trauma ICU, as per the Independent.
Dr. Samuel Cloud, the chief medical officer, described the crash’s impact as significant, calling it “probably the most trauma patients from one incident in my career here in Buffalo.”
Initial reports suggested children might have died in the accident, but police clarified this was incorrect following an investigation.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the event as “tragic” and stated in a social media post that her office is working with the police.
“I’ve been briefed on the tragic tour bus accident on the @NYSThruway,” she shared on X. “My team is coordinating closely with @nyspolice and local officials who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.”
New York Senator Chuck Schumer also expressed his condolences on X, stating he is “heartbroken” for the lives lost and those injured, and offered gratitude to first responders.
Representative Eric Swalwell of California similarly expressed sorrow, stating, “My heart breaks after hearing of the horrific bus crash in New York. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the first responders working through this tragedy.”