Filipino Passengers Involved in Deadly New York Bus Crash
NEW YORK – Authorities confirmed that several Filipinos were among the passengers of a tour bus that crashed in Buffalo on Friday afternoon, leaving at least five people dead and dozens injured.
New York State Police spokesperson Trooper James O’Callaghan said most of the 51 passengers were of Asian descent, including Indian, Chinese, and Filipino nationals. The bus was traveling from Niagara Falls back to New York City when the driver lost control along Interstate 90 in the town of Pembroke. The vehicle rolled over multiple times before coming to rest in a ditch.
The crash was devastating. Some passengers who were not wearing seatbelts were thrown from their seats, while others were trapped inside the wreckage and had to be rescued. Several of the injured were in critical condition and were airlifted to nearby hospitals. Sadly, one of the confirmed fatalities was a child.
Philippine Consul General Senen Mangalile said the consulate is closely coordinating with New York State Police to determine the exact number and condition of Filipino and Filipino-American passengers. He noted that they are still waiting for an official report from Buffalo authorities and have not yet received confirmation on whether any of the Filipino passengers were among the fatalities. “Still waiting for official word from authorities. Right now they are only giving details to immediate family,” Mangalile told GMA Integrated News.
The driver of the bus, who survived, is cooperating with investigators. According to police, the bus was traveling at full speed when the driver lost control, but no other vehicles were involved. The National Transportation Safety Board has also deployed a team to investigate the cause of the accident.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her condolences, confirming through an official statement that five lives were lost in the tragedy. The highway was closed for several hours in both directions, causing heavy traffic during what was supposed to be a busy summer travel weekend.