THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed Saturday that no Filipinos were among the fatalities or seriously injured in the deadly tour bus accident that killed five people on Friday, Aug. 22, in upstate New York.
The crash also left at least 49 others injured when a chartered bus overturned along the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, roughly 30 miles east of Buffalo.
The confirmation followed inquiries made by The Manila Times amid reports that many of the passengers were of Asian descent, including individuals from China, India and the Philippines.
“At present, there are no reports of Filipino nationals among the deceased or seriously injured,” a DFA official stated on Saturday. “We continue to coordinate with the Philippine Consulate General in New York, which remains in close contact with US authorities.”
The Crash
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The tour bus, operated by M&Y Tour Inc., was returning to New York City from a day trip to Niagara Falls when it lost control at high speed on the eastbound side of Interstate 90.
According to New York State Police, the vehicle veered off the road, overcorrected, and overturned into a grassy ditch around midday.
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There were 54 passengers onboard, including tourists ages between 1 and 74 years old. All five fatalities were adults.
The injured were transported to area hospitals, including Erie County Medical Center, with several undergoing surgery or treatment for fractures and trauma.
While several passengers reportedly held passports from India, China, the Philippines, and the Middle East, officials confirmed on Saturday that no Filipino citizens were among the deceased.
The Philippine Consulate General in New York has not received any requests for consular assistance or emergency services related to this incident as of the time of writing.
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“We are monitoring the situation very closely,” said a representative from the Consulate, “and remain ready to provide any assistance if needed by Filipino nationals or their families.”
The wreck happened 40 kilometers east of Buffalo as the tourists headed back to New York City after visiting Niagara Falls.
The passengers were of Indian, Chinese and Filipino origin, authorities said.
“It’s believed the operator became distracted, lost control, over corrected and ended up… over there,” said New York state police commander major Andre Ray at the scene Friday evening, giving the toll for the first time.
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No one else was in a life-threatening condition, Ray said. Several passengers received medical treatment and were released.
Fifty-four people were on the bus when it crashed and no children were killed, US media reported, contradicting an earlier police briefing.
Six Chinese citizens were aboard the bus, China’s state broadcaster CCTV said, quoting the Chinese consulate in New York. Five were treated for minor injuries and discharged, while the sixth was undergoing surgery.
The bus had traveled to Niagara Falls, on the border with Canada, for the day and was heading home when the accident took place on a highway near Pembroke.
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Mechanical error ruled out
“Mechanical error was ruled out as well as impairment or intoxication,” said Ray, who added that no charges had been brought.
Translators were sent to the scene to help communicate with the victims.
Eight helicopters were involved in the rescue effort, Margaret Ferrentino, president of Mercy Flight, a nonprofit provider of air ambulance services, told AFP.
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“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. We just want to make sure that all the details are thoroughly vetted,” a police spokesman said earlier.
State Gov. Kathy Hochul said her team was coordinating with state police and local officials “who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.”
Blood and organ donor network Connect Life issued a call for blood donors to come forward in the wake of the crash.
“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,” said the senior US senator from New York, Chuck Schumer.
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Niagara Falls — towering waterfalls that span the US-Canada border — is a popular tourist destination.
