A sightseeing trip turned into tragedy in western New York when a tour bus carrying international passengers overturned on Friday, killing five people and injuring several others. Among those who lost their lives was 65-year-old Indian tourist Shankar Kumar Jha, a resident of Madhubani, Bihar.
Accident Details
The fatal crash took place about 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Buffalo, as the bus was heading back to New York City after a day-long trip to Niagara Falls.
The vehicle, a 2005 Van Wool Bus and Coach tour bus operated by M&Y Tour Inc. of Staten Island, New York, was traveling eastbound on the I-90 highway when it suddenly veered into the median. The driver attempted to correct the movement, but the sharp maneuver caused the bus to overturn and roll off the embankment on the south side of the highway.
Authorities confirmed that 54 passengers were on board at the time of the crash. Multiple people were either ejected from the bus or trapped inside, leading to chaotic rescue scenes.
Victims Identified
The New York State Police released the names of the deceased on Saturday:
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Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, Madhubani, India
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Pinki Changrani, 60, East Brunswick, New Jersey
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Xie Hongzhuo, 22, student at Columbia University from Beijing, China
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Zhang Xiaolan, 55, Jersey City, New Jersey
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Jian Mingli, 56, Jersey City, New Jersey
The passengers were mostly tourists from India, China, and the Philippines, highlighting the bus’s role in ferrying international visitors.
Injuries and Rescue Efforts
Dozens of passengers sustained injuries ranging from minor cuts to critical trauma. The wounded were rushed to nearby hospitals, including Erie County Medical Center, Strong Memorial Hospital, Millard Fillmore Suburban, and United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.
Emergency responders, including state police, firefighters, and paramedics, rushed to the scene. Mercy Flight, a non-profit air ambulance service, deployed eight helicopters to quickly transport the most severely injured passengers. Translators were also brought in to help communicate with non-English-speaking victims.
Margaret Ferrentino, president of Mercy Flight, told AFP that the scale of the rescue operation was one of the largest in recent times. “We had multiple aircraft in the air at once, working with ground teams to stabilize and evacuate the injured,” she said.
Investigation Findings
Police ruled out mechanical fault, driver intoxication, or impairment.
Major Andrew Ray confirmed, “Mechanical error was ruled out as well as impairment or intoxication.” No charges have been filed against the driver.
The bus was being driven by Bin Shao, 55, of Flushing, New York, who survived the crash without serious injuries. Authorities said Shao appeared alert and cooperative during questioning. A police spokesperson explained, “The driver is alive and well – we’re working with him. We believe we have a good idea of what happened, why the bus lost control. We just want to make sure that all the details are thoroughly vetted.”
Preliminary findings suggest the driver was momentarily distracted, causing the bus to drift off the roadway before the fatal overturn.
Also Read: Mystery On I-90: Tour Bus Overturns Near Niagara Falls, Leaving Dead And Dozens Injured
A Tragic End to a Joyful Trip
The victims had just visited Niagara Falls, one of the most popular destinations for international tourists in the U.S. For many passengers, the trip was meant to be a memorable sightseeing experience before returning to New York City. Instead, it ended in a devastating accident that claimed five lives and left many others shaken and injured.
Tour bus accidents in the United States have raised recurring safety concerns in recent years. Many of these buses carry international tourists visiting popular attractions such as Niagara Falls, Washington D.C., and New York City. While federal and state authorities regulate tour companies, investigators often cite issues like driver fatigue, distraction, or sharp maneuvers as leading causes of crashes. In past incidents, safety advocates have pushed for stricter monitoring of small tour operators to prevent tragedies like the one reported in western New York.
Also Read: Bus-Truck Crash in Brazil’s Mato Grosso Causes 11 Deaths, 45 Injured
