On a sunny Friday, August 22, 2025, what should have been a routine return journey from Niagara Falls turned into a scene of devastation on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, New York. A tour bus carrying 54 people—ranging in age from toddlers to seniors—overturned on the eastbound side of the highway, resulting in the deaths of five adults and injuring dozens more, according to New York State Police and multiple news outlets including ABC News and the Associated Press.
The bus, operated by M & Y Tour Inc. of Staten Island, was returning to New York City after a day trip to the iconic waterfalls. The passengers, a diverse group mostly of Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Middle Eastern, and American backgrounds, were jolted into chaos when the vehicle suddenly veered off course. New York State Police Trooper James O’Callaghan explained during a press briefing that the bus “lost control, went into the median, over-corrected, and ended up in the ditch.” The driver, who survived the crash and has been cooperative, was believed to have become distracted, though officials did not specify how. Mechanical failure and driver impairment were quickly ruled out as possible causes, as confirmed by Major Andre Ray and echoed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). No charges have been filed as of Friday evening, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Eyewitnesses and first responders described a harrowing scene. Multiple people were ejected or thrown about the bus as it rolled and came to rest on its side. “There was a lot of people embracing each other. It looked like people were breaking down,” said Powell Stephens, a passerby who spoke to WHAM-TV. Images from the scene, widely shared by ABC News, showed the bus lying in a ditch, surrounded by shattered glass, scattered belongings, and a heavy emergency presence.
Rescue operations were swift and robust. Mercy Flight medical transport service dispatched three helicopters, joined by three more from partner organizations, to airlift the injured to area hospitals. Emergency teams worked tirelessly to extract trapped passengers and stabilize the wounded. Translators were brought to the scene to assist with communication, given the international makeup of the bus’s passengers—a detail emphasized by both Associated Press and local authorities.
The toll was grim. Five adults were pronounced dead at the scene. Early reports mistakenly suggested a child was among the deceased, but this was later corrected. Nearly every other passenger suffered some form of injury, ranging from minor abrasions to severe head trauma and broken limbs. Erie County Medical Center, which received two dozen patients, reported head injuries, extremity fractures, and other trauma, but doctors were optimistic: “All are expected to recover,” hospital officials told ABC News. By the following day, at least ten patients had already been discharged, with the American Red Cross arranging temporary shelter at a senior center in Amherst, New York.
Kaleida Health, another major hospital network in the region, treated 20 patients, including five children. One child remained in serious condition as of Saturday, while the University of Rochester Medical Center reported two patients in critical condition. The scale of the medical response underscored the severity of the crash, but also the resilience and coordination of the region’s emergency services.
Authorities quickly moved to control the scene and support victims. New York Governor Kathy Hochul was briefed early and took to social media to call the accident a tragedy, stating her office was “coordinating closely with @nyspolice and local officials who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.” All lanes of the thruway at Pembroke were initially closed, causing significant travel disruptions, though westbound lanes reopened later the same day. The New York State Thruway Authority urged drivers to avoid the area due to heavy delays, a message echoed by state police.
The NTSB, the nation’s chief accident investigator, announced it was sending a “go-team” to examine the circumstances of the crash. The agency will look at every possible angle, from road conditions to driver actions and vehicle maintenance records. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, M & Y Tour Inc. had a “satisfactory” safety rating and no record of accidents or fatalities in the past two years, with 60 inspections of its buses and drivers during that period. The age of the bus involved was not immediately known, but officials noted that a New York state law requires seat belt use on charter buses built on or after November 28, 2016. Trooper O’Callaghan remarked that it appeared most passengers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, a point that may come under scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.
For families and friends of the victims, the tragedy is almost unimaginable. “An absolute tragedy took place,” Major Andre Ray said at a news conference. “And first and foremost, our thoughts, prayers and hearts go out to those involved, their friends and their families.” U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer also weighed in, expressing his heartbreak for the victims and gratitude for the first responders: “I’m heartbroken for all those we’ve lost and all those injured and praying for their families. Thank you to our brave first responders on the scene.”
In the aftermath, the community rallied. Blood and organ donor network Connect Life issued an urgent call for donors to help replenish supplies in the wake of the mass-casualty event. The American Red Cross provided shelter and support to survivors who were discharged from hospitals but unable to immediately return home. Local officials, hospital staff, and volunteers worked together to provide translation services, medical care, and emotional support for those affected.
As investigators piece together the moments leading up to the crash, questions linger about what could have been done differently. Was the lack of seat belt use a critical factor in the severity of injuries? Could improved safety regulations or better enforcement have saved lives? And for the families of those lost, the answers may never fully heal the wounds left by a day that began with the simple joy of a sightseeing trip and ended in heartbreak.
For now, the focus remains on helping survivors recover and supporting the families of the deceased. As the NTSB and state authorities continue their work, the tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in travel—and the profound impact of a single moment’s distraction on so many lives.
