10-car crash involving a bus in South Brunswick leaves 7 people injured

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, New Jersey (WABC) -- There was a 10-car crash apparently caused by a large bus in South Brunswick Thursday morning that left several people injured.

It was an unbelievable scene at Route 130 and Friendship Road at 6:30 a.m. There were several cars mangled. First responders attended to victims in nine crushed cars, after a Coach USA bus slammed into and barreled through two lanes of cars.

"The bus failed to stop. It struck 10 vehicles, sending some of the vehicles into a nearby field. Two of the people had to be extricated from their vehicle by the fire department," said Capt. James Ryan, South Brunswick Police Department.

A video shows the driver of the bus, in blue, holding a briefcase, standing aside, as police examine the coach USA bus, owned by Suburban Transit out of New Brunswick.

Police questioned him and they say he claimed the brakes failed, but investigators have so far, found no problems with the brakes.

"Traffic investigators right now are interviewing the people involved, the bus driver, and they are looking at all possibilities. Right now it's preliminary so we don't have a finding, but it's an active investigation," Capt. Ryan said.

The company released a statement saying in part, "Safety is our top priority and Suburban Transit if fully cooperating with the authorities with their investigation into the incident."

Seven people were injured and taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital.

Among the most serious injuries are a man with a broken back and a woman with a broken pelvis.

Police are looking to question the driver again. The wreckage suggests a very hard impact. Some of the cars were slammed so hard; they were pushed into a wooded area.

"Normally bus drivers are careful. This looks very scary," a resident said.

The crash is not considered weather related.