Frankford Avenue at Orthodox Street was shut down at the height of the morning rush hour after a SEPTA bus collided with a tractor-trailer.
The truck jackknifed, while the front windshield of the bus was smashed in.
The truck driver was not transported to the hospital and did not appear to be injured, though he seemed upset as he looked on from just a few yards away.
SEPTA bus collides with tractor-trailer in Frankford
Passersby were stunned.
"I'm trying to figure out how this happened," George Lighty of Frankford said.
"I hope everybody is alright. That's the first thing I thought. I hope everybody is alright that went to the hospital," Alex Boscic of Frankford said.
SEPTA bus and tractor-trailer collide
The Route 5 bus was traveling north on Frankford when it struck the tractor-trailer which was turning onto Frankford from Orthodox Street.
Fifteen passengers were transported to Einstein Medical Center while the bus driver was rushed to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital. All had non-life-threatening injuries.
Najah Crawford was supposed to be on that bus, but was running late getting her children ready for daycare.
"I'm supposed to be to work at eight; this would be normally my route," Crawford said.
SEPTA is investigating the crash in cooperation with Philadelphia police.
The cause of the crash is still not known.
RAW VIDEO: SEPTA bus, tractor-trailer collide
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