3 teens killed in crash with NJ bus ID'd

PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. (WPVI) -- Investigators have identified the three teenagers killed in a crash involving a car and a New Jersey Transit bus in Pleasantville, Atlantic County on Memorial Day.

All of those who were killed were passengers in a car that struck the bus head-on.

According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, 18-year-old Tevin Campbell of Absecon and 14-year-old Kira Strider, of Pleasantville, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Amber Fernandez, 16, was rushed to the hospital after the crash but died shortly after midnight Tuesday.

Police say the car was driven by 18-year-old Melissa Rodriguez, of Pleasantville, and had a total of five passengers.

Rodriguez and two surviving passengers were taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center-Atlantic City Campus.

The driver of the NJ Transit bus and several passengers were also taken to AtlantiCare.

The crash happened at 1:50 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Old Turnpike.

Police say a Route 502 NJ Transit bus, which originated at the Atlantic City bus terminal and was en route to the Hamilton Mall, was hit head-on by a red Camry carrying a group of teenagers.

Police say the NJ Transit bus, which hit a tree and a pole after it collided with the car, came to rest a short distance away.

Images from the Action Cam at the scene showed firefighters extricating three people, one at a time, through a bus window.

"I was literally right in front of it when it happened. I stopped for five seconds and my mind just reacted 'run right now,'" witness Michael Almeyda said.

Almeyda watched as the bus jumped the curb and came towards him after the collision.

He said the driver came within a foot or two of hitting him.

"The only thing that was going through my head is 'God help me. Please save me. Don't let me die today,'" Almeyda said.

Almeyda and other eyewitnesses say the driver of the Camry crossed the double yellow into the southbound lanes.

Police say novice driving may have led to the crash.

"The red car was speeding and lost control and ran into the bus and that's why the bus ran onto the sidewalk," Pleasantville resident Dean Harris said.

The cleanup took several hours and shut down Franklin Avenue near the Atlantic City Expressway.

A full investigation is underway.