Deadly New York Bus Crash Kills Five, Including Indian Tourist

A devastating tour bus accident in western New York claimed the lives of five passengers, including a 65-year-old man from India, on Friday, August 22, 2025. The bus, carrying 54 passengers, was returning to New York City from Niagara Falls when it crashed on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, approximately 25 miles east of Buffalo, according to the New York State Police.

The victims were identified by authorities as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, from Madhubani, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, a Columbia University student from Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, New Jersey; and Jian Mingli, 56, also of Jersey City. The bus was carrying passengers from India, China, and the Philippines, as reported by the Associated Press (AP).

New York State Police stated that the crash occurred around 12:22 p.m. local time when the driver, Bin Shao, 55, of Flushing, New York, reportedly became distracted, lost control, and overcorrected, causing the bus to veer into the median, cross the southern shoulder, and overturn. Investigators have ruled out mechanical failure and driver impairment as causes, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing, per a statement from the police.

The accident led to the closure of the Thruway in both directions, with eastbound lanes reopening around 8:30 p.m. and westbound lanes by 5:00 p.m., according to AP. Emergency responders worked to extricate passengers trapped in the wreckage, and several were hospitalized, though no additional life-threatening injuries were reported.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed condolences on X, stating her office was coordinating with state police and local authorities to support those affected. The bus, operated by M&Y Tour Inc. of Staten Island, carried passengers ranging in age from 1 to 74, highlighting the diverse group impacted by this tragedy.