A tour bus carrying 52 passengers from Niagara Falls to New York City crashed and rolled over on a major highway in western New York on Friday, killing multiple people including at least one child and leaving others trapped in the wreckage.
New York State Police Trooper James O’Callaghan confirmed there were “multiple fatalities, multiple entrapments and multiple injuries” after the bus lost control on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, approximately 30 miles east of Buffalo. The driver survived the crash.
The accident occurred around midday when the bus entered the median, lost control and overturned on the southern shoulder of the highway. Several passengers were ejected from the vehicle during the rollover, with many believed not to have been wearing seatbelts.
International Tourists Among Victims
State police revealed most passengers were international tourists from China, India and the Philippines returning from the popular tourist destination of Niagara Falls. Translators were being brought to the crash site and local hospitals to assist with communication.
Several witnesses observed the bus lose control, enter the median, then cross to the southern shoulder and overturn,” New York State Police said in a statement. The bus was the only vehicle involved in the crash.
O’Callaghan told reporters that almost everyone on board sustained some form of injury. Emergency responders found passengers trapped beneath the overturned vehicle, with heavy rescue units deploying airbags to free victims.
Mass Casualty Response
The crash prompted a massive emergency response, with fire services, police, emergency medical teams and air ambulances rushing to the scene. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz described it as a “serious mass casualty bus accident.”
Erie County Medical Center, a level one trauma centre, reported receiving at least 16 patients by mid-afternoon. Mercy Flight, a non-profit air medical transport provider, airlifted four patients to hospitals with plans to transport additional victims.
Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and other regional medical facilities were notified to prepare for incoming patients. ConnectLife issued an emergency appeal for blood donations to help treat critically injured victims.
Highway Shutdown Causes Major Delays
The New York State Thruway Authority closed Interstate 90 in both directions between exits 48A (Pembroke) and 49 (Depew), causing severe traffic delays. Authorities urged motorists to seek alternate routes and avoid the area entirely.
“Avoid the NYS Thruway eastbound at all costs,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz warned on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Photographs from the scene showed the large tour bus lying on its side in grass beside the highway, surrounded by emergency vehicles and first responders. Debris and passengers’ belongings were scattered across the roadway.
Governor Responds to ‘Tragic’ Accident
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed on the “tragic tour bus accident” and her team was coordinating closely with state police and local officials.
“My team is coordinating closely with @nyspolice and local officials who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved,” the governor posted on X.
New York Attorney General Letitia James described the crash as “heartbreaking” and expressed gratitude to first responders working at the scene.
Investigation Underway
State police said they would review dashcam footage to determine exactly what caused the bus to lose control. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, with authorities yet to release specific details about the number of fatalities or the conditions of survivors.
Witness Powell Stephens of Medina, who drove past the crash site, told The Buffalo News: “There was glass all over the road and people’s stuff all over the road.”
The crash represents one of the deadliest road accidents in New York State in recent years. Tour buses are required to undergo regular safety inspections, though enforcement of seatbelt usage on such vehicles remains inconsistent.
Emergency services continued rescue operations into Friday afternoon, with some passengers still trapped in the wreckage hours after the initial crash. The identities of the victims have not been released pending notification of families.
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