Whats up with these buses seems we hear about this happening more often this past year. Do we need better training and driver liscense checked more closely. Something needs to give......

It says the EMS was in route to the scene at 12:30, so 36 minutes later.

I drive the turnpike every day from Exit 1 to 14 and let me tell you the bus drivers lately are the worse I have ever seen. The drive in the left in areas where it is clearly marked no buses or tailer and swerve in and out to get in front of traffic. They need to be goverened. A bus full of passengers should not be able to blow past my car if I am going 65-70.

The last time I was on a bus to NYC from NJ the WW did not work and the brakes were bad. If I'm driving my vehicle on the GSP or TP & I do 65 to pass a really slow mover EVERYONE else is passing me. There is usually more than one reason for an accident. HEAVY traffic is also a factor.

Umm, I dont see anywhere in the article that the driver died at the scene,and I dont think the police would be giving a briefing for at least three hours after the accident so they could figure out what happened and notified family. Chances are the driver went into cardiac arrest at the hospital and was revived. Ladder trucks are extremely important at these scenes. The members on these truck are usually the ones's that are trained in extrication and they can assist EMS with triage plus that big truck parked across a highway certainly will stop traffic from being over aggressive and hurting one of the first responders and finally if you want medics in less then 6 minutes you better move the New York City.

why the hell don't you log someone in before they spend their valuable time posting something, only to have it disappear while you log us in????????????????????

Father, we pray in jesus name for healing and a full recovery for each person involve in this accident. May the peace of God be with everyone involved in the accident and their love ones in Jesus Name.

say there that you must be logged in first RATHER than just putting up there "Leave A Comment" and us thinking that's all we have to do.

DEAR GOD PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE ANYONE I KNOW OR MY FAMILY! IF IT IS TO BE, SO BE IT. PLEASE WATCH OVER THEM AND BLESS THEM.

amen

How does someone die at 11:54am and get revived FOUR HOURS later? Also, I'm with Lydia, if the accident occurred at 11:54am and the EMT's were just "en route to the scene" at 12:30pm, I too am staying far away from New Jersey!... Could that be a direct result of the Christie Administration policies toward fire fighters and public employees? This could be one example of what happens when a budget is balanced on the backs of the middle class instead of requiring fair and equal taxation of the wealthy.

you know what everyone should be doing is praying that these people recover from this instead of trying to figure out who's fault, and who die for 4 hrs ,Rember some of these could have been childrens as well even if it didnt say so,and it is someone love one's so god help all who is hurting thur this,and help them to have peace,Amen.

I used to be a bus escort for a major bus/tour company. I did a lot of runs to NYC. Let me tell you there are some bus drivers behind the wheel that shouldn't be there. My last day was when a driver came back in the evening to pick the tour up and he was tweaking and we were 250 miles from home. I didn't realize he was tweaking until we got on the NJ TPK. The next day I quit my job, I couldn't be responsible for a bus load of people if the driver was on something. My superior later did a ghost ride with the driver, at which time he drove into a McDonalds. Enough said!

TAILGATING.IS.BAD.

AMEN, Jerome........I'm with you!!!!!

Janet, I don't see how Governor Christy's policies had anything to do with this accident. You truly picked an inappropriate time to make this a political arena. The accident had nothing to do with politics. Yet, it would take a zombie from the far left to attempt to make it one. Also, this nations wealthy make up 2% of taxes paid by them, if you taxed those 2% of everything they have you will still not solve the nations financial woes. How about looking at the BIG PICTURE HERE? How about requesting of the clueless One in the White House to ease up on some of the unnecessary regulations his bunch of "Left Wing" goons have imposed on the American people. Maybe, that is where you should start throwing blame at. GET EDUCATED, THAN COME BACK AND SPEW.

I heard here on LI if you need a fire engine or an ambulance called to any scene the people in the accident are now sent a bill. And i know for sure if you hit a utility pole LIPA sends you a bill for $100 at least that what it was 10 yrs ago.

Hello everyone, it is sad but I believe any accident is something that we all as Christians should just offer a little prayer for all involved in it even if we do not know them, just as we would like others to do for us if it were us or our loved ones, it matters not who's fault it is, just that they will be ok and live! Teresita

Looks like the Patch Delete Queen needs to get on the ball with the thread, especially with Anna Russo Fabricatore. No doubt she's missing a few marbles?!

You are right about the hours Todd. It is 11 hrs of driving and 14 total on duty. This was a day cab. I am sure he just works 10 hrs a day. As for the driver being revived hours later. It says the driver was reported killed but revived at the hospital. Says nothing about what time he was revived. It does say that this report was at 5.

I pray that everyone will heal and be alright. I would like to know how by the pictures that you know its the rigs fault? How do you know that the bus was not trying to come back one to the road? Or a car in the left lane cut in front of the truck as you can see from the pictures the damage is more than half way down a 53 foot trailer. There is heavy skid marks from the rig . Please don't put the blame on anyone unless YOU know for sure. JB Hunt is not a great company but neither are alot of companies now days (SWIFT sure wish I finished training God one driver couldnt even back up in the port!! ) Lets all wait and see what the police say to blame anyone. Oh by the way I do drive trucks NY to Florida every week on I-95

It had to be tailgating. I was in Elizabeth this past weekend for a funeral, and getting home we jumped on the NJ Tpke hoping to make it home quicker. No - there was roadwork saturday just after woodbridge, just around the area where the 2 two lane truck lane and the 3 lane car lanes merged. Complete standstill. No shoulder. And staties were trying to get through AFTER we sat and crawled 3 miles. And everyone was right on the car in front's butt. There's a rule in NJ - I know because I learned to drive there before I moved here to PA. And that rule is keep one car space between you and the car in front for every 10MPH you're driving. So if you're driving 30 MPH, you should have 3 car lengths in front of you. No one does that anymore except the people who stick to the left lane. But the people who stick to the left lane, INCLUDING trucks and buses, don't always use the courtesy rule for merging -- and thats to look and see whats coming on, and time yourself to allow the merge or move to the passing lane until its clear. These two things have caused accidents everywhere!! And its not JUST NJ, its PA too - more so in PA though. The entry's onto the major roads are not long enough... ok - maybe the Market St exit in York PA is -- but thats about all I saw. So its not just cell phones, its people's ignorance and short tempers.

To Anna-- From the way the picture looks that bus rear-ended the truck, unless NJ has different laws, most states say if you rear-end some one you are automatically at fault. The bus driver should have had better control over his bus not to hit that truck. Seems to me it will be the bus company and driver who will be facing lawsuits not jb hunt.

Before any one post comments please get facts straight, 1st accident happened around 11:54 time reported to NJSP, Monroe EMS dispatched at 12:02 the first EmS unit on scene at 1208. Fire used a ladder truck because it has all heavy rescue equipment so is no need to have a separate rescue truck. First victim extricated at 1230 due to intensive damage to bus for those that have an understanding of extraction wasn't slow at all, various expects during a rescue need to stabilize patient and need to pay attention in what is being cut around. In this incident was other victim behind it so very complex rescue. Victim was revived on scene and them medevac. 2nd victim was shortly extrecated also transported in critical condition. Multiple agencies were requested by Monroe EMS, but due to heavy traffic those responding ambulances had to fight traffic along the emergency lane. So in summary don't post just to post get facts straight.

Definitely a bad mix of vehicles in traffic;the investigation will reveal who or what was at fault as photos can be deceiving. I drive a tractor trailer in Phoenix for the Postal Service and see both reckless truckers and buses daily. The JB Hunt tractor in the accident photo is a "local deliver" type and not an extended "sleeper" cab. It would lead me to believe that he wasn't on a long haul,just a short haul local delivery. Ms. Fabricatore should have noticed that!!

I worked for JB Hunt. My dispacther did not care about my safe, he made me drive in un-safe conditions. I had to have common sense an stop driving.

So very touching to me,being a truck drivers mom,I rode with my son 2 mos.I could not deal with the way drivers think a "Rig" could stop on a dime.Hats off & prayers to ALL the truckers male & females. Sorry folk but seems to me,the Bus was following too close.

When my baby boy was having a seizure, they responded in a huge firetruck. I didn't fuss at them about wasting tax payers money. I was happy to see them.

For the person who said it was two, and that the JB ran into another truck who had slowed for a break down or stalled car. LOOK AT THE PICTURES!!!!! If a truck runs into the back end of another truck that JB truck would have a front end that was messed up. well from the pictures the JB truck looks intacked. as a driver for over 14 years I have to agree with the other drivers on this posting. If you don't like our trucks on the highway, then grow your own food and raise your own chickens,beef,pork,and make your own cheese. then make your own clothes and shoes, Oh and go back to horse and buggys cuz the gas you put into your cars well that too is comes by truck to your nears gas stations. I can go on here and add much more. If not for trucks and the drivers who drive them your stores you love to shop in would be empty. Just saying

Often traffic comes to a hault at exit 8A if you are going to hit traffic it will be at exit 8A and so it is hard to have an accident if you are not moving

40 YEAR TRUCK DRIVER (EAST COAST), RETIRED. WITH THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE IN THESE VEHICLES TODAY AND ON THE JERSEY PIKE THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT HAPPEND. OH, BY THE WAY THERE NOT A SHORTAGE OF GOOD TRUCK DRIVERS THEY WON'T WORK FOR THESE NON UNION (SCAB) COMPANY'S WANT TO PAY.

it is very frustrating to hear all of you playing the blame game. I have been driving a motorcoach for 15 years. I am a very good driver and knock on wood never have I been in a accident where I was at fault. I have been on the turnpike many many times. It is crazy to hear all of you playing the blame game but none of you take blame one yourselves. You all talk about how the bus drivers drive how the truckers drive. What about how YOU drive your cars. How you cut these large vehicles off . How You put peoples lives in danger just because you cant ride behind the bus or truck, oh but of course your perfect thats rite. It doesent matter who was at fault it was a accident they happen every day. It wasent on purpose thats why its called a accident. And I will have you know that bus driver is a retired NY police officer, he has been driveing a bus for about 10 years and has a spotless driving record. You all should be ashamed at the way you jump to conclusions. That man is fighting for his life. Im not saying all bus drivers are perfect. I get upset with some of them my self. But people in there cars need to have more respect for the larger vehicles on the road.

Im a Fire Fighter and a Bus driver. The response with the ladder is business as usual. That truck carrys much more than a ladder in the way of tools and equipment to conduct extrications and incident mitigation. I drive entertainer coaches for rock stars and the like. With 2.5 million safe miles behind me I can tell you a large pecentage of the bus drivers in the NY, NJ area stink. They would'nt last a day In my seat. Aggresive un-skilled knuckle heads. The bus driver for whatever reason was at fault for at least not paying attention far enough ahead and going too fast for conditons. The truck drivers are at least as bad if not worse. Constantly tailgating driving like my kid on a go-cart. Pass all the laws you want. It wont do any good. In fact it will probably hurt in the fact that drivers with my kind of experience will just walk away. Tired of jumping through hoops. Cops out writing tickets for the conduct they see is the only way to identify the trouble makers and hold them and they'er companys accountable. And please dont confuse the entertainer buses, the fancy ones with the cool paint jobs, with the dummys hauling people like cattle to casinos and communters to work. The people in those buses deserve a safe smooth ride like anyone else. Too bad they have never felt what that is like.

A ladder to a vehicle extrication?...."business as usual"? What company do you ride with?

If the driver did "die' but "came back" I wonder what he saw..I lost my son in a trajic car accident recently and read all I can about near death experinces..just my take on this.

FIRST AND FOREMOST,LET ME SAY THAT MY UNCLE,THE BUS DRIVER IS AN EXCELLENT,WELL-TRAINED, BUS DRIVER WHO ALWAYS EXHIBITS THE UT-MOST SAFETY WHEN OPERATING ANY VEHICLE.INCLUDING HIS PRIVATE VEHICLE! HE POSSESSES OVER 500,000+ DRIVING MILES OF BEHIND THE WHEEL EXPERIENCE COMMERCIALLY! IF YOU SPECULATORS WOULD READ THE ARTICLE MORE CAREFULLY,YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS NOT BUS DRIVER ERROR. THE ACCIDENT STEMMED FROM THE TWO TRACTOR TRAILERS THAT COLLIDED AHEAD OF THIS CRASH! AND WITH ANY KNOWLEDGE OF MECHANICS,VEHICLE WEIGHT,VELOCITY OF MOVING OBJECTS,ETC. YOU WOULD KNOW THAT ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY STOP WITH VEHICLES OF THESE SIZES IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT! SO BEFORE ANY OF YOU "BLINDLY" MAKE ASSUMPTIONS,AS TO HOW YOU "BELIEVE" THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED,AND/OR PREMATURELY POINT THE EVER SO POPULAR FINGER OF BLAME, ACQUIRE THE FACTS! READING SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS JUST NOW ALMOST MADE ME THROW UP. JUST KNOWING THAT THIS IS THE VERY REASON WHY INDIVIDUALS LOOK LIKE IDIOTS,IN FRONT OF NEWS CAMERAS,WHEN THEY OFFER WHAT THEY "THINK" HAPPENED!I WOULD APPRECIATE PRAYERS AT THIS POINT INSTEAD OF "CRIME SOLVING"! BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,THESE ARE PEOPLE WITH FAMILIES...NOT JUST MINE!

I'm so sorry to hear about your Uncle.. I am praying for him and all others in the Accident. I also get very frustrated when others think they can solve the question of
what happened and who is to blame. I appologize for them...
Wish your uncle well for me.

Most people including me and ALL truck and bus drivers...drive way over the speed limit 80mph plus....those that drive trucks and buses have more responsibility due to the size of their vehicles....

bus and trucks going too fast when driving on hwy they alway pass me. drivers behavior is the most important it doesn't matter how much training they had.

I'm not taking sides for neither the truck nor the bus driver. I will say that big rigs can and do move faster than lots of buses. I work for a co. driving busses and our engines are governed to top out at 70 some only 65mph. I've had vheicles from semi's, motorcycles, sedans, suv's ect cut in front of me and slam on breaks putting me in the position to think fast and act faster. People dont realize that big vheicles cannot stop on the drop of a dime and often underestimate the distance they do have to stop. Nobody knows who is at fault in this situation because you most likely where not there to see it happen. The bus may have survailance cameras that will better assist who was at fault. I pray nothing like this happens to me because I drive in the worst effin state ever!!! Florida lol. I pray for those affected by this tragic accident and the families who had to witness it.

everybodys knows that little sticker on the back of a bus,{ yeild to bus} well it went to the heads of 95% of bus drivers,try getting on the pike at 16 e at 5-6 pm they run the exit to the rest stop then put the blinker on and just cut right in befor the rest-stop,they dont care about the cars or trucks in the right lane,

Pure ignorance...and i'll prove it! Like this...." WERE YOU THERE!?" HELL NO! and the definition of IGNORANCE...? ANYONE?... {LACK OF KNOWLEDGE} YOU DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED...so shut da hell up!

I am rooting for you Mr. Robert Johnson. Hang in there. What a miracle. I really hope he is okay....

I drove semi's for thirty years up and down the jersey turnpike and always tried to leave space in between vehicles and be courteous but it's impossible because the cars think that space is for them to fill up and then when they want to get off an exit they just slam their brakes on when in the center lane to get off.......most OTR drivers bus and truck are great drivers.....ever since the local drivers stopped getting paid by the hour they think their Mario Andretti........Every car driver should be put behind the wheel of a 80,000lb rig and made to panic stop it and they will have a whole new respect for them......I wasn't there and didn't see the accident but i can say with most certainty a car made a stupid move in front of a big rig.... caused the accident and kept going...... The big rigs should leave a space in between.....impossible!
I feel so bad for that bus driver...

I just looked at the pictures supplied and you can see in the last picture that the JB Truck was in the center lane and had to panic stop for some reason and it looks like his trailer was empty and drifted over to the right lane where the bus was and you can see the skid marks of the bus in the right lane going to the shoulder trying to get by that drifting trailer and almost made it....... that bus driver saved a lot of lives

NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW THE TRUTH. Maybe the bus company has something to hide or the truck driver. There will be some kind of a cover up I am sure, there always is. There have been to many serious accidents lately, and involving buses. Here in Colorado Springs there was a SCHOOL BUS DRIVER who rear ended and truck, kids on board, What is wrong here? Not enough training? Bad servicing? No one cares enough to thoroughly check? Here in CS, there are serious accidents everyday many involving roll overs and pin ins. Speed is a big factor but riding peoples rear bumpers is the main cause, WE have very high speed limits here and of course it is NEVER FAST ENOUGH, so what happens, ACCIDENTS all over the place. WHy can't people drive with their brains and not their feet?

My thoughts after many years driving a truck and being a tow truck driver and being called to many wrecks.
1) Truck driver was in the fast lane.
2) Bus driver in the slow lane.
3) Truck was passing the bus, was driving into the sun.
4) As the truck pas the bus, traffic ahead reduce speed ( look at the last pic red road sign on the bridge. With sun in his eyes maybe a somewhat dirty windshield. He over put the truck into a hard jack knife. As the truck adn trailer jack knife. The trailer caught the bus in the slow lane as the truck drag along side of the bus. The trailer hook onto the main support frame of the bus driver support and hung up on the bus dragging it with the trailer. Looking also at the impact and the way trailer is tipping toward the bus its clear that the trailer had more forward speed and is resting up on the bus.

cell phones are a scurge on our soceity as they take over peoples lives and cause a lot of this to happen

The driver is my cousin and he is a wonderful man and very professional and tried to save the people life that was on the bus and I praise him for that so people please pray for his recovery,THANK YOU

I have read the entire artical and i didnt see where the police have found anyone at fault as of yet so why are all these people trying to blame the bus driver. they have no idea how long he has driven or how fast he was driving but some people cant wait to blame someone.

As a retired tractor trailer driver and an EMT who was on the scene of this accident I can tell you that the patient I took to the hospital told us she was in the front nrow of the bus when the accident occorred. She claimed that the truck lost control while trying to avoid a car that cut him off and that the bus driver did everything he could to avoid the truck but the trailer came over in front of them. I am assuming the car just kept blithely driving away.
As per the time delay for the ambulances getting on scene you must remember the first due ambulances were on scene very quickly. When they arrived they quickly determined that they needed many more ambulances, so they had to dispatch first aid squads from the surrounding area. Kendall Park responded two ambulances. For people familiar with the area for us to leave our quarters on New Rd in Kendall Park and get to entrance 8A and then go North to the U-turn at Ridge Rd and then go North up the South bound lane to the accident scene takes a bit of time. There was EMS from Monroe, Milltown, So Brunswick EMS and Kendall Park plus RWJ Paramedics at least two units and a helicopter from State Police Northstar and possibly more that I am not aware of. Gathering all these resourses takes a little time and when we respond we certainly do not want to cause other accidents compounding a bad situation and making it worse.
All in all I think everybody did their jobs well.

The tractor-trailer may have jacnifed BEFORE the bus collided with it! Such a scenario blocks ALL lanes, putting the trailer in front of vehicles (the bus & possibly others) that previously had a clear lane/plenty of following distance, now they find no escape! The cause/fault in that case, would be whatever caused the tractor trailer to have to suddenly brake so hard!--(Sometimes, it is better to brake easier, and if you have to, go ahead and HIT the car, etc. that caused the incident.--Otherwise, as seems to be the case here, they leave the scene, possibly to REPEAT it somwhere else, at a later time!