A tour bus crash near Buffalo left multiple people dead and dozens injured, including children, with rescue operations still ongoing.
Multiple fatalities and injuries, including children, were reported Friday after a tour bus carrying 52 passengers from Niagara Falls to New York City crashed into a ditch along Interstate 90 near Pembroke, east of Buffalo, authorities said.
New York State Police spokesperson James O’Callaghan confirmed the bus rolled over for “unknown reasons,” trapping and ejecting several passengers. “We believe there is a child that is a fatality,” he said, adding that some entrapped victims may still be alive.
The passengers, mostly Indian, Chinese and Filipino nationals, were being assisted by translators. Victims are being transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester as helicopters, ambulances and law enforcement continue rescue operations.
The crash forced the closure of the New York State Thruway in both directions. Gov. Kathy Hochul called the incident “tragic,” praising first responders for their efforts to rescue survivors and assist stranded motorists.