Chopper 6 shows how severely damaged the vehicles involved were. Some people inside of them were placed on stretchers at the scene. Others on the bus were taken to a staging area where police, fire officials, and EMS workers checked them out. People who were not injured were transferred to another bus to continue on their commute.
The accident shut down route 42 southbound for one hour and left drivers in that direction stuck in a long backup that stretched at least a few miles.
By the time people who were stuck on the highway finally got to pull off, many headed to a nearby gas station where they filled up their tanks in frustration. Witnesses say the accident seemed sudden. They told police that a car was travelling southbound when it blew a tire and the driver lost control.
Drivers in vehicles next to it swerved out of the way to avoid getting hit, but that proved impossible. Three cars and that New Jersey transit bus, which had more than 20 passengers inside, crashed. People inside were rushed to local hospital with neck and back injuries.
Most of the 12 people hurt were taken to Cooper Hospital. Others were taken to our Lady of Lourdes hospital. Most of the injuries are reported to be minor.
