A charter bus bound for D.C. from New York was in a bad accident Wednesday afternoon, and speed may be a factor.
The crash happened about noon 30 miles southwest of New York City on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Authorities said the bus driver was critically injured and at least a dozen passengers hurt after colliding with two tractor-trailers in New Brunswick.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, but Japheth Bruce, who was among the 55 riders, told WNBC what he saw happen.
He said an 18-wheeler traveling in front of the bus jammed on its brakes during heavy traffic and the bus couldn’t stop in time.
"Our bus tried to slow down, but it was too late,” he said. “[The bus driver] was trying to turn off, but he ended up hitting the back of the truck."
The impact tossed passengers from their seats and left some trapped inside.
Firefighters scrambled over and into the wreckage to get to the driver.
The 52-year-old, whose name is not being released, was flown to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital with multiple injuries
Dan Ronan, Director of Communications for the American Bus Association, said the driver has worked for the D.C. Trails Inc. since 2008 and has a clean driving record.
All lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike are now open, but motorists can expect residual delays.
