Tour Bus Crash Near Buffalo, New York

A tour bus returning to New York City from Niagara Falls was involved in a serious crash on Friday, resulting in several fatalities and injuries, according to police reports.

The crash occurred on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, which is roughly 25 miles east of Buffalo. The cause of the accident hasn’t been determined yet.

Bystanders at the scene captured images of the bus that had landed off the side of the highway.

Trooper James O’Calaghan, a spokesperson for the New York State Police, stated, “At this point, there are multiple deaths, multiple lockdowns, multiple injuries.”

Emergency response teams, including several ambulances and medical helicopters, were deployed to transport the injured from the site of the crash.

One witness, Powell Stevens from Medina, recounted to Buffalo News, “There was glass on the road and people’s stuff everywhere. All the windows have been crushed.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the incident on X as a “tragic tour bus accident,” noting that her office was collaborating with law enforcement and local officials to address the situation.

The Mercy Flight Air Medical Transport Service confirmed that three helicopters were in operation, transporting patients to nearby hospitals.

By 2:10 PM, Erie County Medical Center reported at least eight patients, although the exact number of injured individuals hadn’t been officially confirmed.

Additionally, three helicopters from other services were summoned, increasing the response from multiple local ambulance units, as mentioned by Mercy Flight President Margaret Ferentino. She emphasized, “It’s a very lively scene. At this point, we are praying for the victims.”

In the aftermath, the New York State Department of Thruway announced that long stretches of the highway had been closed in both directions, urging drivers to steer clear of the area.