I-90 Pembroke tragedy: Multiple dead, heavy gridlock expected — all to know
Tour bus overturns on I-90 near Pembroke, leaving several dead and dozens injured.
A devastating crash on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, New York, left several people dead and dozens more injured on Friday afternoon when a tour bus overturned while traveling eastbound.
Authorities confirmed that the bus, carrying 52 passengers from Niagara Falls to New York City, lost control shortly after 12:40 p.m. near Exit 48A. The vehicle veered off the highway, entered the median, and overturned into a roadside ditch. Officials noted that while the driver survived, nearly every passenger sustained some form of injury. Tragically, at least one child was among the fatalities.
According to New York State Police, many passengers were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, leading to multiple ejections from the vehicle. First responders faced additional challenges as several victims were trapped under the wreckage.
I-90, Pembroke- All lanes closed due to a collision involving a bus. Expect heavy delays and alternate routes of travel. pic.twitter.com/XaLajUR12C
— NewYorkStatePolice (@nyspolice) August 22, 2025
The passengers were of diverse nationalities, including Indian, Chinese, and Filipino, and language barriers complicated rescue and medical coordination. Translators were dispatched to assist emergency teams at the scene.
The New York State Thruway Authority shut down I-90 in both directions between Exits 48A and 49, urging motorists to seek alternate routes. Emergency response was significant, with several Mercy Flight helicopters and ambulances deployed, along with physicians sent directly to the crash site.
Hospitals across the region were placed on high alert. Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) declared a “mass casualty notification” and admitted 24 patients, with 20 still undergoing treatment by late afternoon. Oishei Children’s Hospital received one patient, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital took in 11, and Buffalo General admitted four more.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with cranes brought in to stabilize and remove the overturned bus. By early afternoon, traffic was diverted at Exit 48A as crews worked to clear the wreckage and treat survivors.
The incident remains under investigation as authorities piece together the cause of the crash.