Five Killed in Tour Bus Crash Near Buffalo, NY
A tour bus crash in western New York resulted in five fatalities on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred around 12:45 p.m. on Interstate 90, as the bus was traveling from Niagara Falls to New York City.
The deceased have been identified as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, a Columbia University student from Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, New Jersey; and Jian Mingli, 56, also from Jersey City.
According to New York State Police, the bus was carrying 54 individuals, including the driver and a tour guide. Some passengers were ejected from the vehicle and others were trapped beneath the bus. Emergency responders reported multiple injuries, prompting the transport of dozens to local hospitals. As of Saturday afternoon, 21 passengers remained hospitalized at Erie County Medical Center, with 14 in stable condition.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, which did not involve any other vehicles. Preliminary findings suggest that the driver, Bin Shao, 55, of Flushing, New York, may have become distracted and overcorrected, leading to the loss of control. Shao displayed no signs of impairment, and there were no mechanical failures with the bus.
The National Transportation Safety Board has initiated an investigation, focusing on the crash site, vehicle condition, and driver qualifications. Witnesses or anyone with video evidence are encouraged to contact the NTSB.
The tour company, M&Y Tour Inc., has not commented on the incident.