Witnesses, Victims Of Fatal NJ TRANSIT Bus Crash Describe Chaotic Scene
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Witnesses and victims of a fatal crash between two NJ TRANSIT buses in Newark Friday morning are recalling the chaotic scene of people being trapped in their seats and screaming for help.
The crash happened around 6 a.m. at Raymond Boulevard and Broad Street when a NJ TRANSIT 59 Line bus, with only the driver on board, slammed into a 13 Line bus carrying 17 passengers.
Jennifer Petrain was opening up a Starbucks about 100 yards from where the accident occurred. She said she heard a crash "like an explosion" and ran outside. She said she and a co-worker brought ice water, rags and a first aid kit.
"We were there before anybody was on the scene," Petrain said. "It was terrible. We saw people with head injuries, leg injuries."
Several passengers described seeing the other bus barrelling towards them. Some tried to help other people get off.
"I just heard people ask for help," crash victim Yacouea Savadogo told CBS2's Christine Sloan. "They can't come in the bus and the guy wanted help. I was scared because I think the guy is going to die."
Savadogo could be seen on the bus rolling cellphone video seconds after the accident. He said he saw the other bus speeding toward the one he was on.
"Very fast," Savadogo said. "Everything go very fast."
Marquell Williamson told CBS2's Sloan from his hospital bed that it was sheer chaos as he tried to help one woman who was trapped.
"I tried to help the lady out, but she said she was stuck, so like, you know, the people helped me out," he said. "Everything was blurry at moment. I hit my head on the bus."
Witness Khalil Smith was at the bus stop when the crash happened and also ran in to help.
"Me and a couple of other guys start trying to pull people out of the bus, break the windows and pull pieces of the chairs and stuff out of the bus to get to the people," he said. "Not much we could do 'cause the people were smushed in between the seats, and the windows and the poles and stuff of the bus."
Video from the scene showed one bus lodged in the undercarriage of the other with debris and tangled metal scattered across the roadway.
The driver of the bus that had no passengers on it was killed. Another female passenger on the other bus also died and 17 people, including the driver, were taken to area hospitals.
Authorities are trying to determine whether one of the buses ran a red light.
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