On August 22, 2025, a tour bus carrying 54 people, including the driver, crashed on Interstate 90 between Rochester and Buffalo, New York, while traveling from Niagara Falls to New York City.
The bus overturned and rolled off the road, causing multiple injuries and fatalities. New York State Police responded to the crash at approximately 12:22 p.m.
Injuries and Hospitalization
Dozens of passengers, including several children, were transported to area hospitals. Erie County Medical Center’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Samuel Cloud, stated that the crash involved the highest number of trauma patients he had seen in his 25 years in Buffalo.
Victims Identified
On August 23, New York State Police released the names of the five people killed in the crash:
- Shankar Kumar Jha (65) – Madhu Bani, India
- Pinki Changrani (60) – East Brunswick, New Jersey
- Xie Hongzhuo (22) – Beijing, China (attended Columbia University)
- Zhang Xiaolan (55) – Jersey City, New Jersey
- Jian Mingli (56) – Jersey City, New Jersey
The bus driver was Bin Shao (55) from Flushing, Queens, New York. He showed no signs of impairment, according to state police.
Cause of the Crash
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The bus, owned by M&Y Tour Inc., was traveling east when it exited the roadway and entered the median. The driver “abruptly corrected” the steering, causing the bus to overturn and roll off the road.
Police suggested that the driver might have been distracted, which led to the loss of control. Both mechanical failure and driver impairment were ruled out as factors.
Victims’ Demographics
The passengers on the bus ranged in age from 1 to 74 years and came from various countries, including the U.S., China, India, the Philippines, and the Middle East. Notably, none of the deceased were children.
Road Closures and Impact
The crash temporarily shut down lanes in both directions on the interstate, disrupting traffic in the area.
Previous Tour Bus Crashes in New York
This incident adds to a history of tour bus accidents in New York. Other recent notable crashes include:
- November 2024: 28 injured, one seriously, on I-490 in Chili.
- January 2024: One dead, one seriously injured, and 10 others with non-life-threatening injuries on I-87 in Lake George.
- September 2023: Two fatalities involving a student bus on its way to band camp.
- August 2021: 57 injured in a crash on the New York State Thruway near Syracuse.
- July 2011: Two killed, 35 injured on I-390 in Steuben County.
- June 2002: Five killed, 41 injured on I-90 near Victor.
