On August 22, 2025, a tour bus crashed and rolled onto its side on the Interstate 90 in New York in Pembroke, New York, United States, killing five people and injuring 49 others. Tourists from China, India, the Philippines and the Middle East were among the victims.[1]
| 2025 Pembroke bus crash | |
|---|---|
 Cranes trying to stabilize the bus | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Date | August 22, 2025 c.12:20 p.m. |
| Location | Interstate 90 in New York, Pembroke, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°59′22″N 78°26′48″W / 42.98944°N 78.44667°W |
| Country | United States |
| Operator | M & Y Tours |
| Incident type | Rollover crash |
| Cause | Loss of control |
| Statistics | |
| Bus | 1 |
| Passengers | 53 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Deaths | 5 |
| Injured | 49 |
| Damage | Bus written off |
Background
editVehicle
editThe bus, owned by M&Y Tour Inc. out of Staten Island, had no mechanical issues.[2]
Crash
editAt about 12:20 p.m. EDT, the bus was travelling east on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, Genesee County, coming back from a trip to Niagara Falls. It departed the travel lanes onto the right shoulder before continuing left across both eastbound travel lanes, entered the vegetated center median, reentered the eastbound travel lanes, yawed counterclockwise and rolled onto its right side. The bus came to rest with its front end on the shoulder and edge of the eastbound roadway, about a quarter mile east of mile marker 404.0.[3] Some passengers became trapped or were ejected, as most weren't wearing seatbelts.[4][5] Air medical services were deployed to the scene.[6] After the crash, all lanes on Interstate 90 were closed and travelers were told by police to expect delays.[7]
Victims
editThe victims were identified as 65-year-old Shankar Kumar Jha from India, 60-year-old Pinki Changrani from East Brunswick, New Jersey, 22-year-old Xie Hongzhuo from Beijing, China and 55-year-old Zhang Xiaolan and 56-year-old Jian Mingli, both from Jersey City.[8] Police initially said a child was among the deceased, but later retracted the statement, however, several children were among the injured.[9][4] 48 passengers and the driver were injured, of which 21 were hospitalized.[10] A mass casualty incident was declared.[4]
Investigation
editA grand jury indicted the bus driver, 56-year-old Bin Shao of Flushing, Queens, on five counts of manslaughter in the second degree and five counts of criminally negligent homicide. He appeared in court on February 13 and remained held on $100,000 bail.[11] He pleaded not guilty to the charges.[12] No evidence of drug or alcohol impairment was found.[13] Politician Bruce Blakeman said tighter commercial driver's license restrictions may have prevented the crash.[14] The crash sparked calls for a full audit of New York's commercial driver licensing system.[15]
References
edit- ↑ Li, David; Kubicko, Brittany (August 22, 2025). "5 on tour bus killed when it careens out of control in western New York". NBC News. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "5 killed, at least 41 others transported to local hospitals after tour bus crash on I-90 in Pembroke". WKBW-TV. August 22, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Motorcoach rollover crash on Interstate 90". National Transportation Safety Board. September 16, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Skoog, Katie (August 22, 2025). "5 confirmed dead after tour bus rollover on I-90 in Pembroke". WIVB-TV. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Deliso, Meredith; El-Bawab, Nadine (August 24, 2025). "At least 5 people killed after tour bus traveling back from Niagara Falls crashes: Police". ABC News. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "At least 4 people killed after tour bus traveling back from Niagara Falls crashes: Sources". KVIA-TV. August 22, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Cross, Greta; Barnes, Emily (August 22, 2025). "Tour bus crashes in Upstate New York: Injuries, fatalities and traffic delays". USA Today. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Tabachnick, Cara (February 14, 2026). "Tour bus driver indicted on homicide charges in deadly crash that killed 5 people". CBS News. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Gallagher, Tommy; Penque, Zachary (August 22, 2025). "State Police: 5 people confirmed dead following Thruway bus crash". WGRZ. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Names released of five killed in Niagara Falls tour bus crash". Sky News. August 24, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ DeGeorge, Kim; McKinley, Dave (February 13, 2026). "Bus driver charged in fatal Thruway crash". WGRZ. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Driver facing manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide charges in deadly tour bus crash on I-90 in Pembroke". WKBW-TV. February 13, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Tour bus driver charged following fatal crash on New York State Thruway". WHAM-TV. February 13, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Fink, Jim (March 27, 2026). "Tighter CDL restrictions may have prevented fatal tour bus crash". WBEN. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Wright, Hunter (March 27, 2026). "Deadly Pembroke Thruway bus crash prompts calls for audit of New York's commercial driver licensing system". WHEC-TV. Retrieved May 1, 2026.