PEMBROKE, N.Y. (AP) — A tour bus returning to New York City from Niagara Falls crashed on Interstate 90 near Pembroke at approximately 2:44 p.m. on Friday, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
Authorities reported that the bus lost control and rolled onto its side approximately 25 miles east of Buffalo, ejecting passengers as windows shattered. “We have multiple fatalities, multiple entrapments, and multiple injuries,” said Trooper James O'Callaghan, a spokesperson for the New York State Police. Children were among the passengers.
Rescue personnel responded swiftly, utilizing several ambulances and three medical helicopters to transport victims to nearby hospitals, including Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, which received at least eight patients.
The bus, described as a full-size tour vehicle, was traveling east when it veered into the median before landing in a ditch on the right side of the road. “Most passengers were likely not wearing seat belts, contributing to the ejections,” O'Callaghan noted.
The driver survived and is cooperating with investigators, who are working to determine the cause of the crash. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has been briefed on the situation and is coordinating with local officials.
Witnesses described the chaotic scene, with debris scattered across the roadway. The New York State Thruway Authority has closed a significant portion of the road in both directions, urging drivers to avoid the area.
An update on the victims and the investigation status is pending.