A tour bus returning to New York City from Niagara Falls was involved in a tragic accident on an interstate highway, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. The incident occurred near Pembroke, approximately 40 kilometers east of Buffalo, where the bus reportedly lost control while carrying over 50 passengers.
According to Trooper James O’Callahan of the New York State Police, the bus veered off the road and rolled over. “At this time we have multiple fatalities, multiple entrapments, and multiple injuries,” O’Callahan stated during a press briefing. Eyewitness accounts indicate that passengers were ejected from the bus as windows shattered upon impact.
Emergency services responded swiftly, deploying several ambulances and medical helicopters to the scene. The Mercy Flight air medical transport service confirmed that it dispatched three helicopters to assist in transporting injured individuals to local hospitals. The Erie County Medical Centre in Buffalo reported receiving at least eight patients from the crash.
O’Callahan provided further details about the crash dynamics, explaining, “The bus was traveling eastbound right before the Pembroke exit and for unknown reasons, the vehicle lost control, went into the median, overcorrected and ended up in the ditch.” The driver of the bus survived the incident.
The majority of passengers aboard the bus were identified as being from India, China, and the Philippines. Translators were being arranged to assist at the scene to communicate with the affected individuals.
As the rescue operations continued, Margaret Ferrentino, president of Mercy Flight, described the scene as “very active,” emphasizing the urgency of the situation. She added, “At this time, we’re praying for the victims.”
In response to the crash, the New York State Thruway Authority announced the closure of a significant stretch of the roadway in both directions, advising drivers to avoid the area. Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her condolences on social media, stating that her office was working closely with local law enforcement and emergency responders following this “tragic tour bus accident.”
Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with debris strewn across the highway. One passerby, Powell Stephens from Medina, recounted, “There was glass all over the road and people’s stuff all over the road. Windows were all shattered.”
The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, as authorities work to determine what led to the bus losing control. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
