Indians, Chinese tourists among 54 on board bus that crashed in New York

At least five people were killed after a tourist bus crashed on a New York highway while returning from Niagara Falls. As per reports, the 54 passengers on board the bus include tourists from India.

Apart from Indian tourists, the bus also had passengers from China and the Philippines as well.

The wreck happened 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of Buffalo as the tourists headed back to New York City after visiting Niagara Falls. The authorities said that the driver became distracted, leading to the crash.

The bus had a total of 54 people on board at the time of the tragedy. Apart from the five fatalities, crash, nobody else was in a life-threatening situation, Ray told the media.

The bus had travelled to Niagara Falls, on the border with Canada, for the day and was headed back when the accident took place on a highway near Pembroke.

The authorities ruled out mechanical error, driver impairment, and intoxication as the causes of the New York bus crash.

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.