At least five people, including an Indian national, lost their lives when a tour bus carrying 54 passengers crashed on Interstate 90 near Buffalo while returning to New York City from Niagara Falls, according to media reports.
The victims were identified as Shankar Kumar Jha (65) from Bihar, India; Pinki Changrani (60) of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo (22) of Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan (55) of Jersey City, New Jersey; and Jian Mingli (56) of Jersey City, New Jersey, ABC News reported.
The accident occurred around 12:22 pm (local time) on Friday in Pembroke, New York State Police confirmed. The bus, operated by M&Y Tour Inc. of Staten Island, was carrying passengers aged between 1 and 74, most of them Indian, Chinese, or Filipino nationals.
According to officials, the bus lost control while traveling eastbound, veered into the median, over-corrected, and rolled off the highway embankment before overturning. “Multiple people were ejected or thrown around the bus when it overturned,” said State Police Troop T Commander Maj. Andre Ray.
Five people were pronounced dead at the scene, while dozens were injured. Although many passengers remain hospitalized, authorities confirmed that none are in life-threatening condition. Every passenger sustained some injury ranging from cuts and bruises to more serious trauma, said Trooper James O’Callaghan.
The crash led to the temporary closure of the Thruway in both directions, with eastbound lanes reopening around 8:30 pm and westbound lanes reopening by 5 pm.
Investigators ruled out mechanical failure or driver impairment as causes of the crash. The bus was described as “extremely damaged,” though the driver survived and was reported to be “alive and well.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed condolences and said her office was coordinating with State Police and other agencies in response to the “tragic tour bus accident.”
