Updated @ 9:29 PM EDT on August 22, 2025
Five people were killed and numerous others were injured when a tour bus carrying 54 people from Niagara Falls back to New York City crashed and rolled on its side on an interstate highway on Friday, according to authorities.
At an evening news conference, state police Maj. Andre Ray stated that the bus crashed into the right shoulder and overturned just before 12:30 p.m. on the eastbound side of Interstate 90 in Pembroke, New York, approximately 25 miles east of Buffalo, after the driver reportedly became distracted, lost control, and overcorrected. He stated that the cause is still being looked into and did not specify how the driver became distracted.
According to Ray, the passengers’ ages ranged from 1 to 74. According to Ray, five individuals were declared dead at the scene of the collision, and several more were ejected from the vehicle. Numerous other people were saved after being trapped in the crash. Hospitals received many of these. According to Ray, it didn’t seem like anyone else had any potentially fatal injuries.
Ray stated, “An absolute tragedy took place,” “And first and foremost, our thoughts, prayers and hearts go out to those involved, their friends and their families.”
According to state police, the majority of the bus’s occupants were of Chinese, Filipino, and Indian descent. To aid with the emergency response, authorities hired interpreters.
According to Ray, a preliminary inquiry ruled out driver impairment or mechanical failure. According to authorities, the driver was assisting police after surviving the collision. According to Ray, no charges had been brought as of Friday night.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced that a team would be traveling to New York to look into the collision.
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.
According to state police, M&Y Tour Inc., located on the Staten Island borough of New York City, was the owner of the bus. A phone listing for the business has a message asking for comment.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, M&Y Tour has a “satisfactory” safety rating and has not experienced any accidents or fatalities in the last two years. Over the previous two years, officials conducted 60 inspections of the company’s buses and drivers, according to the agency.
Trooper James O’Callaghan stated during a previous press conference that it seemed the majority of passengers on the bus were not using seat belts.
A state rule mandating seat belt use for charter buses constructed on or after November 28, 2016, was enacted in response to another bus accident that occurred in New York in 2023. It wasn’t immediately clear how old the bus involved in Friday’s collision was.
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. Later in the day, the westbound lanes were once again open.
Glass and personal items were strewn across the highway, according to witnesses to the wreck’s aftermath.
After passing the collision while driving, Powell Stephens of Medina told WHAM-TV, “It was definitely heartbreaking to see.” “Many people were embracing one another. People appeared to be breaking down.
In a post on the social media site X, New York Governor Kathy Hochul referred to the event as a tragedy. She stated that her office was collaborating with local authorities and police after being briefed about the collision.
“Our hearts are with their loved ones during this difficult time,” the governor remarked in reference to the unfortunate events.
Copyright 2025 NPR
