DFA: Victims of fatal New York tour bus crash include Filipinos

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

Victims of the accident or their next-of-kin may contact the Consulate through the Assistance-to-Nationals hotline (917) 294-0196. (Pexels Photo)

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday confirmed that some of the victims in the fatal tourist bus crash on a New York freeway were Filipino nationals.

DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona did not specify the number but said the Philippine Consulate General in New York was monitoring developments on the ground.

“The New York State Police have reported that several of the casualties are Filipino nationals,” she said.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this incident,” she added.

Victims of the accident or their next-of-kin may contact the Consulate through the Assistance-to-Nationals hotline (917) 294-0196.

Local reports said five people were killed and the rest injured when the bus lost control and crashed into a ditch on New York’s I-90 freeway, near Pembroke town, at around 12:30 p.m. (12:30 a.m. Saturday, PH time).

The bus had 54 people on board and was returning to New York City from Niagara Falls in Canada.

The driver was “distracted,” according to the initial investigation of the New York State Police.

BBC News reported that most of the passengers were “not wearing seatbelts.”

Most were from outside the United States, including India, China, the Philippines and Middle East, according to a report of the New York Times, quoting NY police commander Maj. Andre J. Ray.