NEW YORK: Five passengers aboard a tourist bus were killed Friday when their driver got distracted and crashed on a New York state highway, police said.
The wreck happened 25 miles (40 kilometres) east of Buffalo as the tourists headed back to New York City after visiting Niagara Falls.
The passengers were of Indian, Chinese and Filipino origin, authorities said.
“It’s believed the operator became distracted, lost control, over corrected and ended up… over there,” said New York state police commander Major Andre Ray at the scene Friday evening, giving the toll for the first time.
No one else was in a life-threatening condition, Ray said. Several passengers received medical treatment and were released.
Fifty-four people were on the bus when it crashed and no children were killed, US media reported, contradicting an earlier police briefing.
The bus had travelled to Niagara Falls, on the border with Canada, for the day and was heading home when the accident took place on a highway near Pembroke.
Mechanical error ‘ruled out’
“Mechanical error was ruled out as well as impairment or intoxication,” said Ray, who added that no charges had been brought.
Translators were sent to the scene to help communicate with the victims.
Eight helicopters were involved in the rescue effort, Margaret Ferrentino, president of Mercy Flight, a non-profit provider of air ambulance services, told AFP.
“The driver is alive and well – we’re working with him. We believe we have a good idea of what happened, why the bus lost control. We just want to make sure that all the details are thoroughly vetted,” a police spokesman said earlier.
State Governor Kathy Hochul said her team was coordinating with state police and local officials “who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.”
Blood and organ donor network Connect Life issued a call for blood donors to come forward in the wake of the crash.
“I’m heartbroken for all those we’ve lost and all those injured and praying for their families. Thank you to our brave first responders on the scene,” said the senior US senator from New York, Chuck Schumer.
Niagara Falls – towering waterfalls that span the US-Canada border – is a popular tourist destination.
