The crash occurred as the bus without passengers began its route between Newark and Dunellen; the other bus was traveling between Irvington and Clifton, NJ Transit spokeswoman Nancy Snyder said.
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One bus that was traveling west on Raymond Boulevard-with no passengers on board-struck the side of another bus carrying 19 passengers that was traveling north on Broad Street, one of the officials said.
New Jersey Transit officials have not responded to PIX11’s requests for comment, and a spokesperson was heading to the scene as of 7:20 a.m.
At a news conference Friday afternoon, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka did not offer many details about the incident.
Christopher Trucillo, police chief of NJ Transit, expressed his condolences to the family of the decreased driver of the No. 59 bus, a longtime employee of the agency.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the collision.
“We were there before anybody was on the scene”, Petrain said.
Two Starbucks workers, who were opening the store less than a block away, said they heard the crash and ran to help the injured.
One driver told local news outlet PIX 11 that he thought the crash was a result of a bus driver trying to stick to his or her schedule. One person is still critical and another is in serious condition, Diggs said. She was transported to University Hospital after the crash and pronounced dead several hours later.
Shortly after the crash, New Jersey Transit announced public transportation delays in service downtown.
The driver of the other bus was identified as James Roberts, who has 35 years of experience with NJ Transit, Martin said. One of the buses is on its side.
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There is no word on injuries.
