Five people have been confirmed dead after a tourist bus carrying 52 people rolled over on its way back from Niagara Falls to New York.

The crash occurred on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, as it was traveling eastbound before the Pembroke exit.

At this point, the investigation into how many others died from the incident is still in its early stages.

State police spokesperson James O’Callaghan said in a news conference the bus ‘lost control, went into the median, overcorrected, and ended up in the ditch, which would be on the right side of the roadway’.

The crash involved a tractor-trailer, leaving O’Callaghan to confirm ‘the bus did roll’ but not the reason why.

A witness to the incident called Powell Stephens told The Buffalo News shared that ‘there was glass all over the road and people’s stuff all over the road’ and that the bust ‘windows were all shattered.’

“It’s a full-size tour bus. Heavy amount of damage,” O’Callaghan continued. “Most people, I’m assuming, on the bus did not have a seat belt on. That is the reason why we have so many ejected people on this bus.”

Mercy Flight and other emergency service providers are said to have used multiple helicopters and ambulances to move injured passengers to the hospital, with the Erie County Medical Center receiving multiple of the victims.

What have the police said?

New York State Police confirmed on Friday August 22 that the westbound lanes reopened to traffic and translators were brought to the scene for the passengers – who were mostly from China, the Philippines and India.

As the investigation continues into why the bus rolled as it did into the ditch, O’Callaghan said they are looking into the driver of the vehicle to provide more clarity on the situation.

He said: “The driver is alive and well. We’re working with him. We believe we have a good idea of what happened, why the bus lost control.”

Police said there were children transported to the hospital, however they are ‘unaware of any serious physical injuries to children at this point’.

New York State Police troop commander Major Andre Ray major told a news conference: “The cause of the collision is still under investigation. However, mechanical failure as well as operator impairment have been ruled out at this time.

“The operator has been cooperative and with the investigation still underway. No charges have been filed at this point.”

How many are injured?

There were 52 people on the bus ranging between ages 1 and 74 were on the bus, and five people were k.illed.

Twenty-four passengers were treated at a Buffalo hospital, and others were also taken to other hospitals.

Dr Jennifer Pugh, Erie County Medical Center’s chief of emergency medicine told the Independent that 20 people were in the emergency ward, two people were in surgery, and others were admitted to the trauma ICU.

Dr Samuel Cloud, the chief medical officer, shared the impact of the crash was significant, calling it ‘probably the most trauma patients from one incident in my career here in Buffalo.’

While initially there were claims that children had died as a result of the rolling tourist bus, police shared that this was ‘false’ information.

What have New York politicians said?

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has called the incident ‘tragic’ since reports came through about the crash, and explained in a social media post that her office is coordinating with police.

“I’ve been briefed on the tragic tour bus accident on the @NYSThruway,” she wrote on X. “My team is coordinating closely with @nyspolice and local officials who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.”

New York Senator Chuck Schumer also wrote his own post on X, sharing how ‘heartbroken’ he is for those who lost their lives.

He wrote: “I’m heartbroken for all those we’ve lost and all those injured and praying for their families. Thank you to our brave first responders on the scene.”

Representative Eric Swalwell of California similarly wrote: “My heart breaks after hearing of the horrific bus crash in New York. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the first responders working through this tragedy.”