A tour bus returning to New York City from Niagara Falls with 54 people aboard crashed and rolled on its side 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 12:30 pm on the eastbound side of Interstate 90 in Pembroke, New York, about 25 miles east of Buffalo, state police Maj. Andre Ray said at an evening news conference. He did not say how the driver became distracted, adding that the cause remains under investigation, the AP reports.
Ray said the passengers ranged in age from 1 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 didn't appear 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. Ray said a preliminary investigation ruled out mechanical failure or driver impairment. The driver survived the crash and was cooperating with police, officials said. No charges had been filed as of Friday evening, Ray said. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team to New York to investigate the crash. Hospitals in the region said they evaluated or treated more than 40 people. Injuries ranged from head trauma to broken arms and legs.
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
