Massive bus crash on the Thruway near Pembroke leaves multiple dead

A tour bus with more than 50 passengers rolled over on the Thruway near Pembroke, triggering a mass casualty response.

Massive bus crash on the Thruway near Pembroke leaves multiple dead

A tour bus carrying more than 50 passengers rolled east on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke on Friday, state police said. The vehicle, believed to be traveling from Niagara Falls toward New York City, lost control, crossed into the median, over-corrected and ended up in a ditch beside the road.

Officials reported fatalities, entrapments and injuries among those on board. Erie County Medical Center said it had seven patients, and Mercy Flight indicated it had airlifted four patients with more expected to be transported to area hospitals.

Witnesses described a scene of emergency vehicles and a large bus on its side in the grass. Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz urged drivers to avoid the area, calling the crash a serious mass casualty event. Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed and was coordinating with state police and local officials to assist those affected.

This incident underscores how quickly a highway tragedy unfolds and how emergency services scale to mass casualties. It also highlights the need for clear, rapid communication among local responders, hospital networks and state agencies during a crisis. In the immediate days ahead, investigators will likely examine factors such as vehicle maintenance, driver factors and road conditions, while officials face public questions about highway safety practices and crisis readiness.

Highlights

The road to safety is tested by tragedy and the work to prevent it continues.