Pembroke, N.Y. – Police identified the five people who were killed Friday in a rollover crash on the New York State Thruway that left 49 passengers injured.
The following were passengers on the bus traveling east on I-90 when it lost control, went into the median, overcorrected and ended up in a ditch on the south side of the Thruway in Pembroke at approximately 12:22 p.m.:
- Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India
- Pinki Changrani, 60 of East Brunswick, NJ
- Xie Hongzhuo, 22 of Beijing, China, and a Columbia University Student
- Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, NJ
- Jian Mingli, 56, of Jersey City, NJ
All five died on the scene, troopers said in a news release Saturday afternoon.
The bus had a total of 54 passengers; the other 49 were taken to area hospitals for treatment, troopers said in a news release Friday evening.
Nearly everyone on the bus suffered some injury, from bruises and cuts to serious conditions, State Police spokesperson James O’Callaghan said during a news briefing Friday afternoon.
The injured were taken to Rochester and Buffalo hospitals, he said.
Nearly half of the passengers — 24 people — were taken to Erie County Medical Center, according to Dr. Jennifer Pugh.
The bus driver was identified as Bin Shao, 55, of Flushing, NY.
Shao was distracted, Major Andre J. Ray, the state police commander who oversees the Thruway, said Friday evening. He did not specify how.
Shao was described by troopers as alive and well, and cooperating with the investigation. No charges were filed as of Friday evening.
The bus was owned by M&Y Tour Inc. out of Staten Island and was returning to New York City from Niagara Falls, troopers said.
Staff writer Vince Gasparini covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach him at vgasparini@syracuse.com.
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