On Friday, a tragic tour bus crash in western New York resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, from India; Pinki Changrani, 60, from New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, a Columbia University student from China; and two others, Zhang Xiaolan and Jian Mingli, both from Jersey City. The bus was traveling from Niagara Falls to New York City when it veered off course around 12:45 p.m. and overturned on an interstate parkway near Buffalo.
The bus carried a total of 54 passengers, including a driver and a tour guide. Many occupants were either ejected from the bus or trapped underneath it, leading to numerous injuries. Emergency responders transported dozens of passengers to local hospitals; Erie County Medical Center reported that 21 passengers remained hospitalized, with 14 in stable condition by Saturday afternoon.
Preliminary investigations by New York State Police indicated that the driver, Bin Shao, 55, may have become distracted, resulting in loss of control. Reports confirm that there were no signs of driver impairment or mechanical failure within the bus. Although the bus was at “full speed” during the accident, specific speed details were not provided. The driver has not been charged with any offenses to date.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the incident, examining factors such as bus condition, highway design, and the driver’s qualifications. They have appealed for witnesses or anyone with video footage to assist their inquiry. The tour company, M&Y Tour Inc. from Staten Island, has not yet commented on the incident.
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