Rescue crews and state police at the scene of a fatal charter bus crash along the New York State Thruway in Genesee County on August 22, 2025. Five people were killed and dozens injured, including Filipino nationals. (Photo courtesy of New York State Police)
The Philippine Consulate in New York is assisting families after a tour bus rollover killed five adults and injured dozens of international passengers.
The bus, operated by M&Y Tour Inc., had 54 passengers on board, including families with children. State police said the vehicle veered into the median, over-corrected, and rolled onto its side before sliding down the slope. Investigators ruled out alcohol, drugs, or mechanical failure as causes, though they said driver distraction remains a possible factor. The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched investigators to join the probe.
Scenes at nearby hospitals underscored the scale of the tragedy. Erie County Medical Center received 24 patients. Kaleida Health facilities in Buffalo admitted about 20 more, including five children. The University of Rochester Medical Center took in at least two. Officials said passengers ranged in age from a toddler to seniors in their seventies, with many identified as Indian, Chinese, and Filipino nationals.
Early reports initially suggested a child was among those killed. Hours later, New York State Police corrected that detail and confirmed that all five fatalities were adults.
Back in Manila, the DFA urged next-of-kin of those affected to contact the Philippine Consulate’s Assistance-to-Nationals hotline at (917) 294-0196. In New York, a Family Assistance Center was established at the Amherst Senior Center in Buffalo, where grief counselors and Red Cross volunteers are receiving families and helping coordinate medical updates.
For now, the names of those who perished remain withheld pending notification of their families. The full extent of Filipino casualties has yet to be confirmed. What is clear, officials said, is that for dozens of families across several nations, including the Philippines, a routine tourist trip turned into a nightmare.
