A multiple-fatality tour bus crash early Friday afternoon on the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) closed all lanes in both directions near the Western New York accident scene.
The tragedy involving the eastbound bus occurred between Exit 48A (Pembroke/New York state Route 77) and Exit 49 (Depew/Lockport/NY Route 78), near mile marker 403.0, state police said. The location in the Genesee County town of Pembroke is midway between Rochester and Buffalo.
Eastbound traffic is being diverted from the toll road at Exit 49.
Westbound traffic was being diverted off the Thruway at Exit 48A, but those lanes have reopened, the New York State Thruway Authority tweeted at 5:08 p.m.
“Drivers should expect significant delays and are encouraged to seek alternate routes until further notice,” the New York State Thruway Authority tweeted Friday.
One option for eastbound travelers on a busy summer vacation season Friday is to exit the Thruway at Exit 49, head north a short distance on NY state Route 78 and then turn right on NY state Route 5 and head east about 15 miles to NY state Route 77, which connects motorists back to the Thruway at Exit 48A.
The tour bus, headed toward New York City with 52 people aboard, overturned in the crash. Rescue efforts were ongoing Friday afternoon, with ambulances and helicopters transporting victims to area hospitals.
“This side of the road — or I should say 90, which will be eastbound — will be closed, I would say for most of today … depending on how long it takes us to get entrapped individuals out of there, get a total tally, go over all the footage,” said Trooper James O’Callahan of the New York State Police at the scene, as shown in a WIVB News 4 video posted on YouTube by the Buffalo-area television news station.
“This piece of the Thruway will more than likely be closed for the rest of the day,” O’Callahan said.
