Chain-reaction crash involving school bus sends 14 to hospital in Williamstown, NJ
WILLIAMSTOWN, N.J. (WPVI) -- An investigation is underway after a five-vehicle crash involving a school bus, two dump trucks and two passenger vehicles sent 14 people to hospitals Thursday afternoon on Tuckahoe Road in Williamstown.
Police said everyone involved has either been released from the hospital or is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m., when a red dump truck rear-ended a white SUV, triggering a chain-reaction collision.
The white SUV appeared to sustain the heaviest damage. A woman and three children were inside the vehicle. Some of the occupants were still being evaluated at Cooper University Hospital, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Erica Delviscio, of Sewell, said she witnessed the crash and ran to help. She later realized she knew the people in the SUV.
"We saw each other and both cried at the same time. She's like, ' Erica, please help me; my babies are stuck in the car.' So I just gave it my all; I tried everything I can to get them babies out," Delviscio said.
Delviscio said one child was trapped by airbags and the crushed metal.
According to Monroe Township police, 14 people were transported to hospitals. Those taken for evaluation included the driver of the school bus and nine students who were on board.
In a message to the school community, Monroe Township Public Schools said a bus was traveling from Oak Knoll Elementary School.
"The students were evaluated by medical staff at the hospital and subsequently released. Thankfully, the driver and students are safe and healthy," the district said.
The district said parents of students on the bus were immediately notified and that counselors would be available at Oak Knoll Elementary School to assist students as needed.
Police remained at the scene for several hours investigating the crash and clearing debris, fuel and other hazards from the roadway.
Delviscio said she was grateful she happened to be nearby when the collision occurred.
"Even if it was anybody, if it was a stranger, I would've been the first one there for them, but knowing that I knew them, it was just so different," she said.
Police said the company that owns the dump truck is cooperating with the investigation. No charges have been filed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
