US tour bus crash kills 5, Indians injured

US tour bus crash kills 5, Indians injured

Ray stated that the preliminary investigation into the tragic bus crash has ruled out both mechanical failure and driver impairment as possible causes. Authorities are now focusing on other factors, including road conditions and weather, to determine what exactly led to the accident that killed five people.

Tragedy on Interstate 90: Tour Bus Crash Kills Five, Dozens Injured, Including Several Indians

carrying 54 passengers crashed and rolled onto its side on Interstate 90 in Pembroke, New York, leaving five dead and many others injured. Authorities confirmed that several Indian nationals were among the passengers.

The accident unfolded just before 12:30 p.m. on the eastbound side of the highway, roughly 40 kilometers east of Buffalo. According to state police Maj. Andre Ray, the driver apparently became distracted, lost control, and overcorrected. The bus veered onto the right shoulder before tipping over, its windows shattering, belongings spilling across the road, and screams filling the air.

Passengers Trapped, Lives Shattered

The crash scene quickly turned chaotic. First responders described a desperate rescue effort as firefighters and paramedics worked against time to free people pinned under twisted metal and broken glass.

Ray said the passengers ranged in age from just 1 year old to 74. All five victims — pronounced dead at the scene — were adults. Many survivors were rushed to area hospitals with injuries ranging from broken bones to severe head trauma. “An absolute tragedy took place,” Ray said somberly at an evening press briefing.

Despite the severity of the crash, authorities said most of the injured are expected to survive. Dozens were treated across regional hospitals, and two patients who underwent surgery in Buffalo were reported to be in stable condition.

Passengers From Across the World

The bus, owned by M\&Y Tour Inc. State police said most passengers were of Indian, Chinese, and Filipino origin, many of them tourists who had come to marvel at Niagara Falls. To support victims in distress, authorities brought in translators to assist both at the crash site and in hospitals.

For families waiting anxiously for news, the uncertainty was unbearable. Some rushed to Buffalo hospitals, while others fielded frantic calls from overseas. “We were getting calls from relatives in India who couldn’t understand what had happened,” one hospital worker said.

Investigation: Distraction, Not Failure

The focus now shifts to whether the crash could have been prevented. At an earlier news conference, Trooper James O’Callaghan noted that most passengers appeared not to be wearing seat belts — a sobering detail that may have contributed to the scale of injuries and deaths.

A Massive Rescue Effort

The scale of the accident drew an overwhelming response. Mercy Flight, a medical helicopter service, deployed three aircraft, joined by three more from other providers. Ambulances streamed into the crash zone, while local hospitals activated emergency protocols to handle the influx of patients.

Jeffrey Brewer, chief of surgery at Erie County Medical Center. “We had patients arriving one after another, some with broken limbs, others dazed and in shock, asking about missing family members.”

Witnesses described a harrowing scene on the highway. Powell Stephens, who drove by shortly after the crash, recalled, “There was glass all over the road and people’s stuff everywhere. Windows were all shattered. You could see people sitting in the grass, bleeding and crying.”

Community and Leadership Response

“Our hearts are with the victims and their families,” she posted on social media.

For the small town of Pembroke, the crash left a deep scar. Residents offered water, blankets, and shelter to survivors while emergency crews worked tirelessly in the summer heat. “We just wanted to help,” said one local woman. “You could see the shock in their eyes.”

A Reminder About Safety

This crash reignites a difficult conversation about bus safety in the U.S., particularly regarding seat belt laws. Safety advocates have long argued that stricter enforcement and retrofitting older buses could prevent needless deaths. The National Transportation Safety Board has previously warned that passenger ejections are among the leading causes of fatalities in bus crashes.

For the survivors of Friday’s tragedy, recovery will be long — physically and emotionally. Some lost loved ones in a matter of seconds, while others walked away with injuries but will carry memories of terror forever.

“This wasn’t just an accident,” said one hospital chaplain comforting victims. And for some, life will never be the same again.”

As authorities continue their investigation, families mourn, and communities rally, one truth remains: what began as a hopeful trip to one of the world’s great wonders turned into a journey of unimaginable loss on a New York highway.