Pembroke, New York – A tour bus en route back to New York City from Niagara Falls crashed and overturned on Interstate 90 in Pembroke, New York, on Friday, resulting in the deaths of five passengers and injuries to dozens more. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that several Filipinos were among the casualties.
According to state police, the driver of the bus, carrying 54 people, apparently became distracted, lost control, and overcorrected, causing the bus to veer onto the right shoulder and flip over. The accident occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. about 40 kilometers east of Buffalo. Preliminary investigations have ruled out mechanical failure or driver impairment as contributing factors. The driver survived the crash and is cooperating with authorities.
Passengers ranged in age from 1 to 74, and multiple individuals were ejected from the bus during the crash. Five adults were pronounced dead at the scene, and numerous others were transported to area hospitals with injuries ranging from head trauma to broken limbs. State police indicated that most of the passengers were of Indian, Chinese, and Filipino descent, and translators were brought in to assist with the emergency response. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
