A tour bus bound for New York became the subject of a heart-rending tragedy on Friday afternoon, as per local reports. Among the 54 people (including the driver, a tour company employee) aboard the vehicle, the majority international tourists were those of Indian, Chinese and Filipino ethnicity. Translators were brought onto the scene to facilitate emergency response.

The incident resulted in the deaths of five passengers and dozens of injuries, as per authorities. The bus was headed back to New York City from Niagara Falls when it rolled on its side on an interstate highway.

How did the New York bus crash happen?

According to state police Maj. Andre Ray’s revelations during an evening news conference, the tour bus driver – who survived the accident – is believed to have gotten distracted while driving the vehicle. He eventually lost control and overcorrected moments prior to the bus flipping over shortly before 12:30 pm (local time) on the eastbound side of Interstate 90 in Pembroke, New York.

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“Several witnesses observed the bus lose control, enter the median, then cross to the southern shoulder and overturn,” read a news release.

As authorities dig further into the case amid the preliminary stages of the investigation, it has yet to be discovered what caused the driver to become distracted while en route to New York City.

The state police said the M&Y Tour Inc-owned bus did not face a mechanical failure at the time of the crash. Moreover, driver impairment was also ruled out. At the time of writing, no charges had been filed. Notably, no other vehicles were hit by the bus travelling at full speed during the accident.

Victims of the tour bus crash in New York State: What we know so far

Although identities of the five people killed in the process haven’t been outed by the officials yet, Andre Ray divulged that all the passengers aboard the bus were in the age range from 1 to 74. Although an initial statement indicated a child was among those killed on Friday, state police later revised the claim, confirming no child fatality was involved.

As detailed by the Associated Press, deceased victims were all adults and were pronounced dead at the scene, while many others were shot out from the bus during the unprecedented tragedy. Multiple others were said to be trapped under the wreckage, but were eventually rescued. In the aftermath of the crash, dozens were transferred to area hospitals. They are didn’t seem to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

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Those affected by the crash are said to have suffered head trauma, broken arms and legs. Ray called the incident an “absolute tragedy,” adding, “First and foremost, our thoughts, prayers and hearts go out to those involved, their friends and their families.”

Sharing a local news article, New York Attorney General Letitia James shared on X: “This bus crash is heartbreaking, and I’m praying for everyone impacted. Grateful to our first responders on the scene working to rescue and help people.”

Calling the accident “tragic,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said first responders were “working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.”

This is a breaking story. More Information will be added soon…