A tour bus returning to New York City from Niagara Falls crashed on Friday, resulting in five fatalities and numerous injuries. The incident occurred on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, approximately 25 miles east of Buffalo, with 54 passengers on board.

The bus reportedly lost control, veering into the median before rolling into a ditch. Many passengers were ejected as the windows shattered during the crash. New York State Police Trooper James O’Callaghan confirmed the situation, stating, "At this time we have multiple fatalities, multiple entrapments and multiple injuries." He noted that children were among the passengers.

The bus was traveling eastbound when the accident happened. O’Callaghan mentioned that the driver survived and is cooperating with authorities. He indicated that they have a preliminary understanding of the cause of the crash but did not provide further details.

Emergency services responded quickly, with Mercy Flight medical transport deploying three helicopters, along with three additional helicopters from other services, to transport the injured. Hospitals in the area reported treating over 40 individuals, with injuries ranging from head trauma to broken limbs. Dr. Jeffrey Brewer, chief of surgery at Erie County Medical Center, stated that two patients requiring surgery are expected to recover.

O’Callaghan described the bus as a full-size vehicle with significant damage. He suggested that many passengers likely were not wearing seat belts, contributing to the number of ejections. Following a previous bus crash in New York in 2023, a state law mandates seat belt use on charter buses manufactured after November 28, 2016. The age of the bus involved in Friday's crash has not been disclosed.

The New York State Thruway Authority announced that a long stretch of the highway was closed in both directions, advising drivers to avoid the area. Witness Powell Stephens described the scene, saying, "There was glass all over the road and people’s stuff all over the road. Windows were all shattered."

New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her condolences on social media, stating she was briefed on the "tragic tour bus accident" and that her office is coordinating with police and local officials.