An early morning crash of two NJ Transit buses at the intersection of Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard has left two people dead and many injured.
NEWARK -- The Newark intersection where two NJ Transit buses collided early Friday transformed into "total chaos" as people rushed to pull the injured from the twisted wreckage, witnesses said.
This photo, taken moments after the bus crash, shows people trying to pull injured passengers from the early morning crash of two NJ Transit buses at the intersection of Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard. (Photo provided)Antonio Costeira, a sergeant with the state Department of Corrections and one of three police officers first on the scene, said passengers were trapped inside the bus after it was broadsided and rescuers climbed through windows to help to the wounded.
"I felt bad for the people that were pinned," Costeira said, recalling the severity of the injuries as passengers were removed. "Some of the people they pulled out looked like [their limbs] were mangled."
One of the NJ Transit drivers was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not released the his identity, but have said he was the driver of an otherwise vacant No. 59 bus traveling west on Raymond Boulevard when it T-boned the No. 13 bus traveling north on Broad Street.
2nd victim dies after Newark bus wreck
Marquel Williamson was among the 18 people, including the driver, injured on the No. 13 bus. He also described a chaotic scene inside the bus after the violent collision threw him from his seat, causing head, neck and back injuries.
One of the female passengers died from her injuries hours after the crash. She has also not been identified.
"People were screaming because they were in pain," Williamson said from a hospital bed at University Hospital in Newark, where he was being treated Friday morning.
Starbucks employees Kalita Cox and Jennifer Petrain were in the midst of opening the shop less than a block away when they heard the crash just after 6 a.m. Cox sprinted to the scene, but soon returned to the store for assistance.
"Kalita ran down to see what happened," Petrain said. "She came back and got me and we ran down with ice, water and med kit for the EMS workers to see if we could help."
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said seven of the injured are in critical condition.
Roads were closed around the crash for hours as the investigation remained ongoing. Special equipment had to be brought in to pull the buses apart and remove them from the scene.
Authorities have scheduled a 3 p.m. press conference to provide an update on thie investigation.
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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