The driver of a tour bus that crashed last August on the New York State Thruway is facing multiple charges in connection with the incident that left five people dead.

State Police say Bin Shao, 56, of New York City, has been charged with five counts of second-degree manslaughter and five counts of criminally negligent homicide.

Shao was driving a tour bus owned by M&Y Tour Inc. based in Staten Island on Aug. 22 last year. The bus was traveling with 54 people on board from Niagara Falls back to the city when police say it veered out of the lane, crossed into traffic and then rolled off the Thruway near Pembroke. Five people died and dozens were injured. 

Police say there was no evidence Shao was impaired or under the influence, and that the bus showed no mechanical failure.

“The logistics of presenting all the charges for injured people were significant. The charges he was indicted with are the most serious charges that could come out of this incident. We felt that it was adequate to hold him accountable for his actions on that day,” said Kevin Finnell, Genesee County district attorney.

Finnell and State Police would say little about what specifically those actions were, not commenting on went wrong and why Shao was unable to control the bus.

“I can’t talk about the specifics of the prosecution’s case and the proof we have now,” said Finnell. “We intend and look forward to presenting all the evidence when the time comes.”

The several months-long investigation led to Shao’s arrest this week in Putnam County.

Shao was arraigned Friday, where he pleaded not guilty. He is being held on $100,00 bail and is due back in court March 9.