A tour bus carrying more than 50 passengers crashed on the New York State Thruway on Friday. As a result, at least five people died, state police confirmed.

The bus, operated by M&Y Tour Inc., was traveling from Niagara Falls to New York City. However, it lost control near Pembroke, about 30 miles northeast of Buffalo.

Trooper James O’Callaghan described the sequence of events. “For unknown reasons, the vehicle lost control, went into the median, over-corrected and ended up in the ditch,” he said. Importantly, the bus was moving at full speed but did not hit any other vehicle.

Victims and Passengers

As a result of the crash, five passengers lost their lives. Fortunately, none of them were children. In total, 54 people were on board, ranging in age from 1 to 74. According to police, most of the passengers were nationals of India, China, and the Philippines.

Dozens Rushed to Hospitals

After the accident, hospitals across western New York received many injured passengers. For example, Erie County Medical Center treated 24 victims, including two who underwent surgery and two admitted to intensive care.

Similarly, the University of Rochester Medical Center received six patients, with two listed in critical condition. In Batavia, doctors treated and released several passengers. Meanwhile, Mercy Flight helicopters transported the most serious cases to regional hospitals.

Roads Closed and Emergency Response

Because of the crash, authorities closed the thruway in both directions between exits 48A and 49. Consequently, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz urged people to avoid the area. “Please avoid all local roads near the scene as traffic is being diverted,” he posted on social media.

In addition, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed on the “tragic tour bus accident.” She added that her team was working with state police and local officials “to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.”