UPDATE – 8/22/25 – 1:40 p.m. PT – Earlier reports indicated a collision involving a semi-truck, but authorities later clarified that the crash solely involved the tour bus.
1:07 p.m.: There have been reports of “multiple fatalities” following a tour bus accident in Pembroke, New York.
New York State Trooper James O’Callaghan informed the media that a tour bus overturned on Interstate 90. The incident led to injuries and several passengers being trapped inside.
At the time of the crash, there were over “50” passengers onboard, including children.
O’Callaghan noted that the bus driver survived the incident, which resulted in the closure of a large section of the Thruway. He mentioned that some individuals were ejected from the bus while others remained trapped.
The New York State Thruway is a network of toll roads.
The bus was transporting foreign tourists returning to New York City from Niagara Falls, with passengers reportedly hailing from countries such as China, India, and the Philippines. O’Callaghan indicated that translators were being sent to assist at the crash site and local hospitals.
The overturning occurred near Pembroke, about 25 miles east of Buffalo, and rescue operations were still ongoing by 3 p.m. ET.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz used X to inform the public about significant traffic delays, specifying that a segment of the interstate would remain closed “until further notice due to the serious mass-casualty bus accident in Genesee County, just over the Erie County line.”
Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) promptly issued a statement, sharing that she had been briefed on the incident.
She affirmed her commitment to ensuring that her team would “rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.”
In addition, several fire departments, rescue squads, and four Mercy Flight helicopters were dispatched to the scene.
The helicopters are preparing to land in the highway median, while additional heavy rescue units from various nearby towns have been requested to aid in the extrication efforts.
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