A tour bus returning from a trip to Niagara Falls overturned in upstate New York on Friday, killing five people and injuring dozens of others, some of whom became trapped or ejected, police said.
The deadly crash occurred on Interstate 90 in Pembroke, near Buffalo, according to New York State Police.
The bus was traveling eastbound when the "vehicle lost control, went into the median, over-corrected, and ended up in the ditch," New York State Police Trooper James O'Callaghan said during a press briefing.
State police said Saturday the bus had overturned and rolled of the I-90 on the south embankment.
Multiple people were ejected or thrown around the bus when it overturned, according to New York State Police Troop T Commander Maj. Andre Ray.
Five adults were found deceased at the scene, he said.
They were identified Saturday as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China, a Columbia University Student; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, New Jersey; and Jian Mingli, 56, of Jersey City, New Jersey.
In a statement, Columbia University said it was "devastated" to learn of Hongzhuo's death in the crash .
"This heartbreaking loss is felt deeply across our community," the university said in the statement, adding that counseling services would be provided to any students who needed them.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family, friends, and all who have been touched by this tragedy."
Nearly everyone else suffered injuries including cuts, bruises and abrasions, according to O'Callaghan.
Multiple individuals were taken to Erie County Medical Center, Strong Memorial Hospital, Millard Fillmore Suburban and UMMR in Batavia. Mercy Flight and numerous EMS and first responders assisted at the scene, police said.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation, though "it's believed the operator became distracted, lost control, over-corrected and ended up on the right shoulder there," Ray said during a press briefing Friday evening.
The bus operator -- 55-year-old Bin Shao of Flushing, New York -- had no signs of impairment and the tour bus had no mechanical failure, according to police.
No charges have been filed at this time, Ray said Friday.
In a statement Friday evening, the National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a "go-team" to investigate the deadly crash.
A child was initially believed to have been among the fatalities, but that was later determined to be false, Ray said.
Police initially said the collision also involved a semi-truck, though later said the bus was the only vehicle involved.
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The bus was traveling back to New York City after visiting Niagara Falls, with 54 people on board, including two bus company employees, police said. The passengers ranged in age from 1 to 74, police said. Most of the passengers were Indian, Chinese or Filipino, according to O'Callaghan.
The driver survived and "has been cooperative," Ray said. The bus was operated by M & Y Tour, Inc. which is based in Staten Island, New York, he said.
Two dozen patients were transferred to Erie County Medical Center with head injuries, extremity fractures and other injuries, doctors with the hospital said, adding that all are expected to recover. At least 10 patients that came to ECMC have been discharged, the hospital said Saturday. The American Red Cross arranged for them to be taken to a senior center in Amherst, New York.
In an update just after noon Sunday, Erie County Medical Center said 11 patients from the bus crash remained at the hospital and that all of them were in stable condition, with one expected to be discharged Sunday.
Kaleida Health, which operates multiple hospitals in the area, said it received 20 patients total, including five children. One of the children remains in serious condition, it said.
The University of Rochester Medical Center said two of the patients it received from the crash are being treated for critical injuries. In a Sunday update, the hospital said "Of the six transported to URMC, one was discharged yesterday, one was discharged today, one remains in critical condition, and the other three are stable."
Amid the rescue operation following the crash, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was briefed on the "tragic tour bus accident."
"My team is coordinating closely with @nyspolice and local officials who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved," she said in a statement on X earlier Friday.
All lanes on the thruway at Pembroke were closed in the wake of the crash, which occurred eastbound on I-90. The westbound lanes have since reopened.
"Expect heavy delays and alternate routes of travel," New York State Police said.
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