5 dead as bus full of Asian tourists crashes on way back from Niagara Falls

A tour bus returning to New York from Niagara Falls with 54 people aboard crashed and rolled on its side on Friday on an interstate highway, killing five passengers and injuring many others, authorities said.

The driver apparently became distracted, lost control and overcorrected before the bus went into the right shoulder and flipped over shortly before 12.30pm on the eastbound side of Interstate 90 in Pembroke, New York, about 40km (25 miles) east of Buffalo, state police Major Andre Ray said at an evening news conference.

He did not say how the driver became distracted, adding that the cause remains under investigation.

Ray said the passengers ranged in age from one to 74. Multiple people were ejected from the bus during the crash, and five people – all adults – were pronounced dead at the scene, Ray said.

Many others became entrapped in the wreck and were rescued. Dozens were taken to hospitals. Ray said it did not appear that any other people had life-threatening injuries.

“An absolute tragedy took place,” Ray said. “And first and foremost, our thoughts, prayers and hearts go out to those involved, their friends and their families.”

State police said most of the passengers on the bus were of Indian, Chinese and Filipino ethnicity, and authorities brought in translators to help with the emergency response.