(CNN) — After spending the morning taking in the breathtaking sights at Niagara Falls, a group of tourists boarded a bus to return to New York City, not knowing about an hour later, their bus would be lying on its side in the ditch off the New York State Thruway.
The bus driver got distracted and lost control, officials said, overcorrecting and rolling over on the interstate, near the town of Pembroke, east of Buffalo, about 40 miles east of Niagara Falls.
Some of the 52 passengers were ejected, others were trapped, police said, as ground and air ambulances, state and local police and other first responders rushed to the crash to help. Five people died and dozens were hurt.
Many of the passengers, some from China and the Philippines, spoke little English, so along with the ambulances and the tow trucks, translators were brought in to help police sort out what happened.
People who saw the aftermath of the wreck told CNN affiliate WHAM glass and people’s belongings were scattered on the highway.
“It was certainly heartbreaking to see,” Powell Stephens told WHAM after he drove by the crash on his way home to Medina from Buffalo. “There was a lot of people embracing each other. It looked like people were breaking down.”
Here’s what we know.
Passengers thrown as bus rolled over
The bus was driving at full speed and did not hit any other vehicles, but lost control from the median onward, New York State Police spokesperson James O’Callaghan said.
The bus crashed just after 12:20 p.m. and was heavily damaged. Most passengers were not wearing seat belts, authorities said, and several were thrown from the bus, while some were stuck inside as first responders swarmed the scene to rescue them.
The passengers ranged in age from 1 to 74 years old and no children were killed, state police said, revising an earlier statement that said they believed there was one child fatality.
Scores of vehicles were stuck on the busy interstate when authorities shut down both eastbound and westbound lanes to respond to the crash. Both lanes were reopened later in the day.
Hospitals prepared for mass casualties
Four regional hospitals received patients from the accident Friday afternoon, with at least two being told to be ready for a large number of patients coming all at once.
At least 30 people were taken to the hospitals, some by air, with a range of injuries from critical to minor, from head and internal injuries and broken bones, while others were deemed medically stable.
The Mercy Flight medical transport service said its three helicopters and three more from other services transported people from the crash site, according to The Associated Press.
Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo received 24 patients, the majority of the victims from the incident, and 20 are actively being treated, it confirmed at a Friday afternoon news conference. “We were able to take care of all patients very quickly,” said Dr. Jennifer Pugh, chief of emergency medicine at the hospital.
Six victims were brought to the University of Rochester Medical Center by air and ground ambulance, said hospital spokesperson Scott Hesel. “Two are being treated for critical injuries and four are medically stable, including one pediatric patient,” he said.
Kaleida Health said in a statement to CNN affiliate Spectrum News Rochester it received 20 patients, including four adults in good condition to Buffalo General Medical Center, 11 adults and two children to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and three children – one in serious condition – to Oishei Children’s Hospital. Most of the patients were in good or fair condition and at least one of those adults has been discharged, the health care network said.
Additional patients were taken to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, according to state police.
The Chinese Consulate General in New York told state media CCTV Friday that six Chinese nationals were on the bus. Five suffered minor injuries, while one is seriously injured and undergoing surgery, the outlet reported. The consulate did not identify victims or disclose where they were transported to.
Also on Friday, the Philippine Consulate General in New York released a statement saying it is “monitoring developments” and will provide assistance to any Filipino nationals affected. The consulate urged any relatives of possible victims to reach out.
CNN has reached out to both consulates for further information.
A list of the passengers provided by the bus company, based in Staten Island, confirmed there were 54 people on board, including the driver and another tour company employee, police said in a statement.
The Red Cross established a Family Assistance Center for the victims at the Amherst Senior Center, according to state police.
Police probing the rollover crash
“Several witnesses observed the bus lose control, enter the median, then cross to the southern shoulder and overturn,” the state police said in a news release.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation but mechanical failure as well as operator impairment or intoxication have been ruled out, Maj. Andre J. Ray, a New York State Police troop commander, said Friday afternoon.
It’s too early to determine whether any charges will be filed, Ray said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is sending a go-team to the crash scene to conduct a safety investigation in coordination with state Police and the state Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Compliance Bureau. Members of the team would arrive Friday and Saturday, the NTSB said.
The tour bus was owned by M&Y Tour Inc. and based in Staten Island. It has no record of accidents or fatalities over the past two years, as well as a “satisfactory” safety rating, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The company’s buses and drivers were inspected 60 times over the past two years, according to the agency.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul described the crash as “tragic” and said first responders were “working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved” in a post on X.
CNN has contacted the tour bus company for comment.
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