NTSB Issues Preliminary Findings in Deadly Crash with Bus Leaving Niagara Falls

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report on last month’s tragic bus crash on I-90 near Pembroke, which left five people dead and dozens injured. While the early findings outline the sequence of events, investigators say the exact cause of the crash remains under review.

According to the report, the motorcoach carrying 53 passengers and its driver from Niagara Falls to New York City veered off the roadway around 12:20pm. The bus, operated by M&Y Tours, first left the eastbound lanes onto the right shoulder then cut across both travel lanes, entered the center median, and reentered the highway. It rotated counterclockwise before overturning onto its side, finally coming to rest with its front end on the shoulder and at the edge of the lane.

In addition to the five people killed, the driver and 48 passengers sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe. New York State Police identified the victims as Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, N.J.; Jian Mingli, 56, also of Jersey City; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, N.J.; and Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India.

Emergency crews from multiple agencies rushed to the site with ECMC declaring the incident a mass casualty event. Local physicians assisted at the scene and Mercy Flight was deployed to transport critical patients to nearby hospitals.

New York State Troop Commander Andre Ray previously stated investigators believe the bus driver may have been distracted, but it is still unclear whether criminal charges will follow.

The NTSB’s investigation remains active as officials work to determine the precise cause of the deadly crash.

NTSB Issues Preliminary Findings in Deadly Crash with Bus Leaving Niagara Falls