PEMBROKE, N.Y. — A tragic tour bus rollover on the New York Thruway killed five people, including three New Jersey residents, and injured dozens more on Friday afternoon, authorities said.
What Happened
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The bus, carrying 54 passengers returning to New York City from Niagara Falls, crashed around 12:30 p.m. on the eastbound side of Interstate 90 near Pembroke, about 25 miles east of Buffalo.
According to State Police Maj. Andre Ray, the driver became distracted, lost control, and overcorrected, causing the bus to overturn along the right shoulder. The exact cause of the distraction is still under investigation.
Victims Identified
The five victims — all adults — were pronounced dead at the scene. New York State Police identified them as:
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Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India
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Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, NJ
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Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China — a Columbia University student
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Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, NJ
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Jian Mingli, 56, of Jersey City, NJ
Passengers and Injuries
Passengers ranged in age from 1 to 74 years old. Multiple people were ejected during the crash, and dozens were taken to nearby hospitals with injuries ranging from head trauma to broken bones.
Two passengers who underwent surgery at Erie County Medical Center are expected to recover, according to Dr. Jeffrey Brewer, the hospital’s chief of surgery.
Authorities noted that most of the passengers were of Indian, Chinese, and Filipino descent, and translators were brought in to assist during emergency response.
Investigation and Safety Measures
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Driver Status: The driver survived, is cooperating with investigators, and has not been charged.
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Bus Company: The bus belonged to M&Y Tour Inc. of Staten Island, which has a “satisfactory” safety rating and no accident record in the past two years.
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Seat Belts: Authorities believe most passengers were not wearing seat belts. New York law requires seat belts on charter buses built after Nov. 28, 2016; the bus’s model year has not yet been confirmed.
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Federal Response: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has dispatched a team to investigate.
Emergency Response
Medical helicopters, including three from Mercy Flight and three others from nearby services, transported the injured. Local hospitals treated over 40 passengers.
Witnesses described heartbreaking scenes, with personal belongings scattered and families comforting one another.
“An absolute tragedy took place,” Maj. Ray said. “Our thoughts, prayers, and hearts go out to those involved, their friends, and their families.”
Officials React
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called the accident “a tragedy” and confirmed her office is working closely with state police and local authorities.
The eastbound lanes of I-90 remained closed for several hours but have since reopened.
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