At least five individuals, including one Indian national, tragically lost their lives when a tour bus returning from Niagara Falls to New York City crashed on a highway near Buffalo. The accident took place on Friday afternoon along Interstate 90 in Pembroke, as confirmed by New York State Police. The bus was carrying a total of 54 passengers, including two employees of the tour company, when the fatal incident occurred. Most of those on board were identified as being of Indian, Chinese, or Filipino origin, highlighting the international group of travelers who were affected by the disaster.
Authorities identified the deceased victims as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, from Bihar, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, from East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, from Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, from Jersey City, New Jersey; and Jian Mingli, 56, also from Jersey City, New Jersey. Reports noted that the victims ranged in age, while the passengers on board were between 1 and 74 years old, showing the wide demographic of people impacted by this tragic event.
During a press briefing, New York State Police Trooper James O’Callaghan explained that the bus had been traveling eastbound when it suddenly lost control. According to his statement, the vehicle veered into the median, over-corrected in an attempt to regain stability, and ultimately ended up rolling into a ditch. Further investigations on Saturday revealed that the bus had overturned completely before sliding off the south embankment of Interstate 90. The accident resulted in severe damage to the vehicle, with multiple passengers being ejected or forcefully thrown around inside when it overturned.
The crash prompted the closure of the New York State Thruway in both directions, causing significant travel disruptions. The westbound lanes were reopened around 5 pm the same day, while the eastbound lanes remained closed for nearly eight hours before reopening at approximately 8.30 pm. Emergency responders worked through the afternoon and evening to secure the crash site and provide medical assistance to the injured.
New York State Police Troop T Commander Major Andre Ray reported that five people were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, while many others were hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries. Fortunately, none of the injured passengers were found to be in life-threatening condition. Trooper O’Callaghan confirmed that every single passenger sustained some form of injury, ranging from cuts and bruises to more serious harm. The driver of the bus, however, survived the crash and was described as being “alive and well.”
Initial fears that a child had been among the fatalities were later corrected, as investigators confirmed that no children had died in the accident. The bus, operated by M&Y Tour Inc. out of Staten Island, was confirmed to have been in service at the time of the incident, but authorities ruled out mechanical failure as a contributing factor. Similarly, investigators found no evidence that the driver had been impaired or under the influence of any substances, narrowing the likely cause to driver error or sudden loss of control.
Governor Kathy Hochul addressed the tragic crash in a public statement, sharing her condolences and emphasizing that her office had been fully briefed on the matter. She also reassured the public that her administration was working closely with New York State Police and other responding agencies to ensure that victims received the necessary care and that the accident was thoroughly investigated.
The incident has left families grieving across different regions of the United States, India, and China, while also drawing attention to road safety concerns involving tour buses. With dozens of passengers injured and five lives lost, the tragedy has sparked both sorrow and questions about how such devastating accidents can be prevented in the future.
