New report sheds light on what happened on tour bus during fatal Thruway crash

Pembroke, N.Y. — The NTSB released new information on the tour bus crash last summer . The new report sheds light on what happened on the bus. The bus was carrying dozens of people to New York City after a trip to Niagara Falls. MORE: Group gathers for prayer as NTSB investigates fatal Thruway crash in Pembroke | Hospitals give updates on conditions of victims from deadly Thruway tour bus crash | Owner of tour bus involved in fatal crash had no recent major violations, data shows | Heartbreak on the Thruway: Eyewitness recounts haunting moments of tour bus tragedy The report was unveiled with the publication of an NTSB report that detailed the crash on the New York State Thruway in Pembroke on Aug. 22, 2025. A tour bus with 54 people inside, ranging in age from one to 74, crashed, flipped, and ejected some from the bus. Five people were killed, and dozens were injured. The new report contains the transcript of an interview between investigators and the tour bus driver, Bin Shao, through an interpreter. MORE: Family's vacation turns tragic after tour bus crash on way back home | First responders recount rescue efforts after deadly tour bus crash on Thruway In the interview, Shao says a water bottle rolled up from the back of the bus and hit his foot, impacting his driving. Shao said he bent over to pick up the bottle and throw it away, but it bounced off a trash bin and came rolling back. When he went to throw it away again, Shao told investigators that’s when he lost control of the bus. In several witness interview transcripts, other passengers also reported seeing Shao reach for the bottle. The NTSB also revealed there were only 59 for the 61 passenger seats on the bus. Troopers said at the time, most people were not wearing seatbelts. According to authorities, the bus swerved across the highway before overturning. The report also identifies the five passengers killed : a 22-year-old woman, a 55-year-old woman, a 56-year-old man, a 65-year-old man, and a 65-year-old woman. Bin Shao was arrested earlier this year and charged with criminally negligent homicide and five counts of manslaughter . Shao is due back in Genesee County Court on July 6. _________