Columbia University Student Among Victims of Fatal New York Bus Crash

Xie Hongzhuo, a 22-year-old Columbia University student from Beijing, was among five victims of a fatal bus crash in western New York on August 22. The tour bus, en route to Niagara Falls, overturned with more than 50 passengers on board. Columbia mourned her loss, calling it “heartbreaking.”

Columbia University is mourning the death of Xie Hongzhuo, a 22-year-old student from Beijing, who was among five people killed in a tragic bus crash in western New York on August 22. The bus, carrying over 50 passengers from Staten Island to Niagara Falls, rolled over on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke.

New York State Police identified the victims as Xie Hongzhuo, Zhang Xiaolan, 55, and Jian Mingli, 56, both from Jersey City, Pinki Changrani, 60, from East Brunswick, New Jersey, and Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, from Madhubani, India. The cause of the accident is under investigation, with the National Transportation Safety Board dispatching a team to probe the incident.

Columbia University issued a statement expressing grief over the young student’s death. “This heartbreaking loss is felt deeply across our community,” a spokesperson said. The university added that it is working closely with Xie’s family while also offering counseling services to students affected by the tragedy.

Emergency crews from multiple agencies responded to the scene, with Erie County Medical Center confirming that 21 people were treated for injuries. Seven were discharged by Saturday, while others remain in hospital, including five in intensive care. Videos and images from the crash site showed the bus overturned with emergency workers rescuing passengers.

The accident has left the Columbia community in shock, as tributes poured in for Xie. While few details have been released about her personal life, the university described her as a valued member of its student body.

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Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the rollover as families of victims and survivors grapple with the devastating aftermath. The bus has been taken into custody by state police as part of the ongoing inquiry.