A dozen military personnel were left injured after a tractor-trailer slammed into the their bus was traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike, authorities said.
The crash unfolded Wednesday afternoon just south of Interchange 3 – NJ 168 for Runnemede. According to New Jersey state police, a passenger bus broke down around 1 p.m. while traveling northbound, stalling as it attempted to pull over from the right lane and onto the shoulder.
The bus was struck by a tractor-trailer, seemingly from behind, shortly thereafter. Video of the aftermath shows a scene crowded with firefighters, police, medics and other first responders. Service members in uniform could also be seen milling about in the shoulder near the bus and tractor-trailer, which had visible front-end damage.
According to ABC 6, the bus was packed with members of the military traveling from Maryland. Twelve of them were injured in the incident, as was the driver of the tractor trailer.
One person in uniform was seen being taken away on a stretcher, NBC 6 reported, citing video from the scene.
While the exact conditions of those injured were unclear Thursday morning, state police told NJ.com that everyone is expected to survive.
The crash also snarled traffic in the area for several hours, with cars stopped as far as a mile away. The right shoulder and all of the lanes on the northbound side of the highway were closed for most of the afternoon on Wednesday and have since been reopened.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
