Update (February 16, 2026): The bus driver has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the wake of the crash after investigators ruled out impairment or mechanical failure.
Update (August 25, 2025): Authorities have identified five people killed in this accident: Xie Hongshuo, 22, of China; Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, NJ; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, NJ; and Jian Mingli, 56, of Jersey City. Authorities also said 21 people were hospitalized after the crash. The bus crash is still under investigation.
Genesee County, NY — August 22, 2025, multiple people were killed and multiple others were injured in a bus accident on Interstate 90/New York Thruway near Pembroke.
Authorities said a tour bus was headed east when it lost control for an unknown reason overturned on the side of the highway.
Multiple passengers, including at least one child, were killed in the crash, according to authorities.
At least four people were flown to area hospitals after the crash, authorities said, but everyone on the bus suffered some sort of injury.
The bus reportedly has been carrying 52 people back to New York City after a trip to Niagara Falls.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Genessee County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When something like this makes the news — multiple people killed, dozens more hurt in a single crash — most people’s first thought is: How does something like that even happen? That’s a fair question. And as of now, it’s one we don’t have a clear answer to.
Authorities say a tour bus traveling east on I-90 lost control and overturned. But what does “lost control” really mean? Was it driver error, a mechanical failure, something in the road or something else entirely? Without more details, we’re left with a serious incident and a lot of unanswered questions.
The first thing that needs to happen in a case like this is a full, independent investigation, not just into what the bus was doing, but into the conditions around it. Was the driver properly rested? Did the vehicle have any mechanical problems? Was there something on the road that caused a sudden maneuver? And importantly, was anyone else involved in a way that hasn’t yet come to light?
The bus was reportedly carrying 52 people, many of whom were injured, and some of whom didn’t survive. In crashes with this many victims, it’s common for the facts to come out slowly. That’s not necessarily because people are hiding anything. It’s just the nature of large-scale incidents. But that doesn’t mean we have to wait passively.
From my perspective, key evidence needs to be secured right away: the bus’s black box data, dashcam footage, maintenance logs and driver logs. All of that can help show whether the crash was the result of a sudden, unavoidable emergency, or whether it was preventable. Depending on what the data shows, responsibility could fall on the driver, the bus company or even a third party that contributed to the loss of control.
I’ve handled cases where transportation companies cut corners: skipping vehicle inspections, putting drivers on the road without adequate rest or hiring people without proper background checks. I’ve also seen cases where vehicle parts failed because they were poorly maintained or never replaced. Those are the kinds of issues an investigation has to uncover, because they’re not just paperwork problems. They’re the difference between a safe trip and a disaster.
Key Takeaways:
- “Lost control” doesn’t explain much; the cause of the crash is still unknown.
- Investigators will need to review black box data, maintenance records and driver history.
- Possible contributing factors include driver fatigue, mechanical failure or unsafe road conditions.
- Responsibility could fall on the bus company, the driver or others, depending on what evidence shows.
- A proper investigation is the only way to determine who should be held accountable.
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