Authorities reported on Saturday that all five of the victims of the Friday afternoon bus crash in upstate New York had been identified.
According to the New York State Police, the casualties include one Indian national, three citizens of New Jersey, and a student from Columbia University.
They were named as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhubani, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, N.J.; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, and Jian Mingli, 56, of Jersey City; and Xie Hongzhuo, 22, a Columbia student originally from Beijing, China.
On Interstate 90, the 2005 Van Hool bus was returning from Niagara Falls to New York City when it struck a median and rolled over, landing in a ditch on the side of the road.
In the town of Pembrokee, an accident between exits 48A and 49 just before 1 p.m. left some of the 54 people inside trapped, while others were released.
According to New York State Trooper James O. Callaghan, the driver, Bin Shao, 55, of Queens, N.Y., was still alive and well on Friday.
Officials verified on Saturday that Shao was not impaired at the time of the collision.
No mechanical issues have been recorded, although the bus was moving at full speed.
According to troopers, no additional vehicles were impacted.
Numerous victims with injuries ranging from broken arms and legs to brain trauma were sent to local hospitals.
As late Saturday afternoon, no charges had been brought.
Investigators have received cooperation from the bus’s operator, M&Y Tour Inc., located in Staten Island.
The story is still evolving. For updates, please return.
