A tragic tour bus crash in western New York on Friday resulted in the deaths of five individuals, identified by the New York State Police as Shankar Kumar Jha (65, India), Pinki Changrani (60, New Jersey), Xie Hongzhuo (22, Columbia University student from Beijing), Zhang Xiaolan (55, New Jersey), and Jian Mingli (56, Jersey City). Columbia University expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Xie Hongzhuo, offering support to her family and friends, and providing counseling services to students affected by the incident.
The bus, carrying 54 passengers, was en route from Niagara Falls to New York City when it veered off course and rolled over on an interstate parkway near Buffalo around 12:45 PM. Many passengers were either ejected from the bus or trapped underneath it, leading to numerous injuries, including those of several children. As of Saturday, 21 passengers were hospitalized, with 14 remaining under care but in stable condition.
Preliminary investigations by police suggest that the driver, Bin Shao (55, Flushing, New York), may have become distracted, resulting in loss of control. There were no signs of impairment or mechanical failure, and the bus was traveling at full speed, though the exact speed was not disclosed. The incident did not involve other vehicles, and no charges have been filed against the driver at this stage.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the crash, focusing on multiple factors, including the site, bus mechanical conditions, and driver qualifications. They are seeking eyewitness accounts or video evidence related to the incident. The tour company, M&Y Tour Inc., has not commented on the matter.
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