A tragic accident occurred on Friday afternoon when a tour bus en route to New York City veered off the road and rolled into a ditch along Interstate 90 in Pembroke, upstate New York. The accident resulted in the death of five passengers, including a possible minor, and left dozens injured, according to local authorities.
The bus, operated by M&Y Tour Inc, was carrying 54 passengers when it lost control around 12:30 p.m. The vehicle veered off the road into the median before abruptly correcting its course, causing it to overturn and roll off the south embankment of the interstate. The accident led to a frantic rescue operation as up to 24 victims were trapped in the wreckage.
State police reported multiple entrapments and injuries, with the death toll eventually rising to five by Friday night. The reasons behind the loss of control remain unknown. The bus veered into the median, overcorrected, and ended up in the ditch, according to State Trooper James O’Callaghan.
The identities of the victims have not been disclosed yet. Authorities, however, believe that at least one child was among the deceased. The injured were airlifted from the crash site to Buffalo-area hospitals by The Mercy Flight medical transport service and three other medical transport services, with as many as six medevac helicopter flights being conducted.
Erie County Medical Center treated 24 patients, most of the victims requiring medical attention from the crash. Two individuals who required surgeries are expected to recover, according to Dr. Jeffrey Brewer, chief of surgery at the medical center. Kaleida Health reported treating 20 patients across three hospitals, including five children.
The bus was heading eastbound on the interstate when it crashed, ejecting some passengers through the windows as it rolled into the ditch. Injuries varied from broken limbs to severe head trauma. Most passengers were likely not wearing seat belts, leading to the high number of ejections, O’Callaghan noted.
The driver survived the crash and was cooperating with authorities in their investigation. There were no signs of impairment, officials reported. The majority of the passengers on the bus were of Indian, Chinese, and Filipino descent.
The accident scene was described as chaotic, with glass and personal belongings scattered across the road. A section of the interstate was closed to clear the scene. Governor Hochul expressed condolences to the victims’ families, confirming the loss of five lives in the accident. The investigation into the tragic incident is ongoing.
M&Y Tour Inc, the operator of the bus, is based in Staten Island. Attempts to reach the company for a comment were unsuccessful.