5 Killed, Including Indians, as Tour Bus Crashes and Flips Over in New York
A tour bus carrying 54 people, including Indian nationals, from Niagara Falls to New York City crashed and rolled over on a major highway in upstate New York on Friday, killing five passengers and injuring dozens more. The horrific accident occurred when the driver reportedly became distracted, lost control of the vehicle, and overcorrected, causing the bus to flip onto its side.
The crash took place around 12:30 p.m. on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, about 25 miles east of Buffalo. According to New York State Police Maj. Andre Ray, the driver’s actions led to the bus flipping into the right shoulder of the highway. Five adults were pronounced dead at the scene. The impact shattered windows and left a scene of devastation, with several passengers ejected from the vehicle. Authorities believe many were not wearing seat belts.
“At this time we have multiple fatalities, multiple entrapments and multiple injuries,” said Trooper James O’Callaghan, a state police spokesperson. He confirmed that children were among those on board and that most passengers were of Indian, Chinese, and Filipino ethnicity, with ages ranging from just one to 74. Emergency services launched a massive rescue operation, deploying multiple helicopters and ambulances to transport the injured to area hospitals.
A large section of the highway was closed in both directions as rescue efforts continued for hours. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed on the “tragic tour bus accident” and that her office was working closely with law enforcement. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with shattered glass and personal belongings scattered across the road, as first responders worked to rescue those trapped inside the heavily damaged bus.
