Scene at the crash site (AP)
A tour bus carrying over 50 passengers – many of them Indian, Chinese, and Filipino nationals – crashed into a ditch along Interstate 90 in upstate New York on Friday, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries, including that of at least one child, according to state police reported CNN. The bus, which was returning to New York City from Niagara Falls, rolled over near the town of Pembroke, east of Buffalo, after losing control for “unknown reasons,” said New York state police spokesperson James O’Callaghan at a press briefing.“A lot of rescues are still ongoing,” O’Callaghan said. “We believe there is a child that is a fatality.” Several passengers were reportedly ejected from the bus, while others remain trapped inside. Authorities said some of the entrapped individuals may still be alive.The bus was carrying 52 people, including the driver, as per the passenger list shared by the tour operator. Translators have been called in to assist with communication, as many of the injured are non-English speakers, primarily from Indian, Chinese, and Filipino backgrounds, as quoted by the portal. The crash has shut down both directions of the New York State Thruway (I-90) near the site. Emergency response units, including helicopters and ambulances, are at the scene. Victims are being transported to Strong Memorial hospital in Rochester for treatment.New York governor Kathy Hochul described the incident as “tragic” and stated that “first responders are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.” The state’s department of transportation is also working to assist stranded motorists, with traffic disruptions continuing in the area.
