“ Several deaths ” reported in a tourist bus accident east of Buffalo, ny

A tourist bus returning to New York from Niagara Falls with more than 50 passengers crashed and took place on an interstate highway on Friday, killing and injuring several people, the police announced.

The bus apparently lost control over the I-90 near Pembroke, NY, about 40 kilometers east of Buffalo. People inside were ejected when the windows broke.

“Currently, we have several deaths, multiple worst and multiple injuries,” said soldier James O’Callahan, New York State police spokesperson.

Several ambulances and medical helicopters have transported patients in the accident. O’Callahan said most people on the bus were Indian, Chinese and Philippine, and that translators were brought to the scene. The driver survived.

“The bus moved east just before the release of Pembroke and for unknown reasons, the vehicle lost control, entered the median, overorrated and ended up in the ditch, which would be on the right side of the road,” said O’Callahan.

The Mercy Flight Air Medical Transport Service said its three helicopters transported people from the accident site to hospitals in the region. Erie County Medical Center, a Buffalo hospital known as ECMC, said that it had at least eight patients at 2:10 p.m..

Three other helicopters from other services have been called to the scene, as well as ambulances from several agencies in the region, said president of Mercy Flight, Margaret Ferrentino.

“It’s a very active scene,” said Ferrentino. “Right now, we pray for the victims.”

The New York State Thruway Authority said that a long section of the road has been closed in both directions and that drivers were invited to avoid the area.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that she had been informed of “the tragic tourist bus accident” and that his office was working with police and local officials.

“There was glass everywhere on the road and people of people on the whole road,” Powell Stephens told Buffalo News after riding the accident. “The windows have all been broken.”

More to come.