Related Links: Newark Bus Accident Leaves One Man Dead, Many Injured After NJ Crash Bus Driver on Cell Phone Charged with Infant’s Death After NJ Crash |
An accident on the NJ Turnpike that involved a passenger car, charter bus and dump truck left five people injured on the morning of October 17, 2013.
According to the State Police, the Hamilton Megabus crash took place in the northbound lanes of the highway roughly two miles south of Interchange 7A. Around 9:30 a.m., the dump truck struck the car, sending it into the back of the charter bus operated by the Megabus Company. The car was spun around and came to rest facing west in the center lane—the dump truck following close behind.
State Police spokesman Sgt. Adam Grossman said that the dump truck then also hit the Megabus, which was carrying 47 passengers aboard.
The passengers in the car, 66-year-old Elinor Athay and 28-year-old Rachael Athay of Woodbridge, VA were freed from their crumpled vehicle by firefighters. They were taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton for treatment of internal and head injuries, but were both listed in stable condition.
Megabus passengers Jerard and Desserie Shaw of Bear, DE were transported to the hospital for treatment of chest pain and neck and back pain, according to the State Police. No other injuries to the bus passengers were reported.
54-year-old Eduardo Ayala, the driver of the dump truck, suffered a head injury and facial lacerations. He was taken via ambulance to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton.
State troopers closed all northbound Turnpike lanes at 9:40 a.m. and were not reopened until 3:30 p.m. Traffic flow was operating normally through the accident site as of 5:00 p.m.
No charges have yet been filed, and the accident is still under investigation.