Xie Hongzhuo, Zhang Xiaolan, Jian Mingli, Pinki Changrani, and Shankar Kumar Jha die in fatal car crash at Pembroke
Fatal car crash at Pembroke death of Xie Hongzhuo, Zhang Xiaolan, Jian Mingli, Pinki Changrani, and Shankar Kumar Jha
The New York State Police have officially identified the five individuals who lost their lives in the serious traffic event that took place in Pembroke on Friday, August 22.
Among the deceased were a student associated with Columbia University, originally from China, along with residents from New Jersey and India.
Specifically, Xie Hongzhuo, a 22-year-old from Beijing, China, was included in the fatalities. Zhang Xiaolan, aged 55 and from Jersey City, New Jersey, was also among the victims. Jian Mingli, who was 56 and also from Jersey City, tragically did not survive. Pinki Changrani, 60 and from East Brunswick, New Jersey, and Shankar Kumar Jha, aged 65 and from Madhu Bani, India, were the other individuals killed.
The incident occurred on Interstate 90, specifically near Exit 48A on the eastbound side, at approximately 12:40 p.m. on that Friday afternoon. According to the police, the driver of the tour bus operated by M & Y Tour Inc., which was traveling from Niagara Falls to New York City, experienced a moment of distraction. This led to the driver swerving and making a sharp overcorrection, causing the bus to cross the median and overturn into a nearby ditch.
All 54 people on board the bus sustained injuries of varying degrees. The injured passengers were transported to several medical facilities for treatment, including ECMC, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Buffalo General, Oishei Children’s Hospital, and the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Of the 21 people taken to ECMC, seven were released from the hospital, and there were reports that two more would be discharged on Saturday. Five individuals were placed in the trauma intensive care unit and were reported to be in stable condition at the time.
An investigation into the accident is currently being carried out by the National Transportation Safety Board. The authorities have requested that anyone with dash cam footage or additional information regarding the crash contact the New York State Police at 585-344-6200.
