A tour bus carrying 51 passengers from Niagara Falls to New York City crashed on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, New York, on Friday afternoon, leaving 5 dead and dozens injured.
According to the New York State Police, the bus lost control around 1 p.m., swerved into the median, overcorrected, and rolled over into a roadside ditch.
“At this time we have multiple fatalities, multiple entrapments and multiple injuries,” Trooper James O’Callahan told reporters at the scene.
Passengers Injured, Hospitals Overwhelmed
Police confirmed that many passengers were tourists from India, China, and the Philippines. Translators were brought in to assist first responders.
Erie County Medical Center received 24 patients, 20 of whom remained under care Friday evening.
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital treated 13 patients (11 adults and 2 children). Ten were in good condition, three were in fair condition.
Oishei Children’s Hospital admitted three children — two in good condition and one in serious condition.
Dr. Jennifer L. Pugh, chief of emergency medicine at ECMC, confirmed that “several fatalities” occurred at the scene.
The 5 Victims Identified
- Shankar Kumar Jha, 65 of Madhu Bani, India
- Pinki Changrani, 60 of East Brunswick NJ
- Xie Hongzhuo, 22 of Beijing, China a Columbia University Student NYC
- Zhang Xiaolan, 55 of Jersey City, NJ
- Jian Mingli, 56 of Jersey City, NJ
Highway Closures and Rescue Efforts
State police shut down I-90 in both directions following the crash. By 5 p.m. local time, westbound lanes reopened, but eastbound lanes near Pembroke remained closed.
Helicopters and ambulances transported victims across western New York hospitals. First responders reported finding shoes, bags, and phones scattered at the crash site.
Governor Hochul’s Statement
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul expressed condolences and said her administration was coordinating with state and local authorities:
“I’ve been briefed on the tragic tour bus accident on the @NYSThruway. My team is coordinating closely with @nyspolice and local officials who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved,” Hochul wrote on X.
Ongoing Investigation
The bus driver survived and is cooperating with authorities. Investigators have not determined why the bus lost control.
The New York State Police said they are conducting a full accident reconstruction and will release more details once preliminary findings are complete.
