BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A tour bus with 52 people on board crashed on I-90 in Pembroke, New York, Friday, resulting in multiple deaths and dozens of injuries.
State police said at least one child was among the dead. Several other people were injured along with multiple others who were trapped under and around the bus. Police said most of the passengers did not have their seatbelts on, resulting in many ejections.
State Police said every person on the bus, which was going from Niagara Falls to New York City, had some level of injury. Hospitals in the region said they evaluated or treated more than 40 people. Injuries ranged from head trauma to broken arms and legs.
The crash occurred around 12:40 p.m. near Pembroke, which is about 25 miles east of Buffalo. State police said the bus lost control, went into the median and turned over into a ditch on the side of the road. The bus did not hit any vehicles. Police said the driver of the bus was alive.
The New York State Thruway Authority said a lengthy stretch of the roadway had been shut down in both directions and drivers were being urged to avoid the area.
Several Mercy Flights were requested as well as all Mercy Flight ambulances.
“It’s a very active scene,” said Mercy Flight president Margaret Ferrentino. “At this time, we’re praying for the victims.”
Among the injured were people with Indian, Chinese and Philippine nationalities. Police said there were language barriers and translators were sent to the scene.
Peter Cutler, the vice president of communications and internal affairs at Erie County Medical Center, said the Buffalo hospital, known as ECMC, received a “mass casualty notification.” They received 24 patients and were still treating 20 of them as of 4:30 p.m.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on X that she was briefed on “the tragic tour bus accident” and that her office was working with police and local officials.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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