At least five people have been killed after a tourist bus carrying 54 people , including children, rolled over on its way back from Niagara Falls to New York City.
The crash happened on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, about 25 miles east of Buffalo, resulting in multiple fatalities, injuries, and entrapments, state police spokesperson James O’Callaghan said in a news conference.
The bus was traveling eastbound right before the Pembroke exit, before it “lost control, went into the median, overcorrected, and ended up in the ditch, which would be on the right side of the roadway,” he added.
There were initial reports of a child among those killed, but police said Friday evening, “further investigation has deemed that to be false.”
New York State Police said Friday evening westbound lanes on the highway have reopened to traffic.
Translators were brought to the scene as most passengers on the bus were from India, China, and the Philippines.
“The driver is alive and well,” O’Callaghan said. “We’re working with him. We believe we have a good idea of what happened, why the bus lost control."
The crash involved a tractor-trailer and O’Callaghan said “the bus did roll” but did not reveal the exact reason why.
“It’s a full-size tour bus. Heavy amount of damage," O’Callaghan said. “Most people, I’m assuming, on the bus did not have a seat belt on. That is the reason why we have so many ejected people on this bus.”
Witnesses have described a horrific scene of broken glass and personal belongings spilling all over the highway following the crash.
Bystander Powell Stephens told The Buffalo News after driving by the crash that “there was glass all over the road and people’s stuff all over the road. Windows were all shattered.”
Mercy Flight and other services used multiple helicopters and ambulances to transport crash victims, with the Erie County Medical Center receiving multiple patients.
A total of 24 passengers were treated at the Buffalo-based hospital, with 20 still receiving care in the emergency department, two in surgery, and others in the trauma ICU, according to Dr. Jennifer Pugh, the hospital’s chief of emergency medicine.
Police said there were children transported to the hospital, but they were “unaware of any serious physical injuries to children at this point.”
Dr. Samuel Cloud, the hospital’s chief medical officer, said there was “probably the most trauma patients from one incident in my career here in Buffalo.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated she was briefed on the “tragic” incident and that her office was coordinating with police and local officials.
“I’ve been briefed on the tragic tour bus accident on the @NYSThruway,” she wrote on X.
“My team is coordinating closely with @nyspolice and local officials who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer wrote on X, “I’m heartbroken for all those we’ve lost and all those injured and praying for their families. Thank you to our brave first responders on the scene.”
“My heart breaks after hearing of the horrific bus crash in New York. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the first responders working through this tragedy,” Representative Eric Swalwell of California wrote.
This is a developing story...
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