1 dead in accident that caused major delays at Lincoln Tunnel

WEEHAWKEN (WABC) -- One man has died after a crash involving a private bus and several cars at the Lincoln Tunnel that injured six other people.

The accident created a traffic nightmare at the end of the Tuesday morning commute, effectively extending it for many.

The multi-vehicle chain-reaction crash involved a car, a Mercedes minivan and a Jitney bus. It happened inside the center tube just before before 8:30 a.m.

The Port Authority says a passenger who was in the minivan, a 49-year old man from Summit, N.J., has died. His identity has not yet been released.

Police say a red BMW entered the tube at a high rate of speed and collided with a Mercedes minivan in front of him, sending that vehicle into the back of the Jitney.

The passenger of the Mercedes was the most seriously injured and was in cardiac arrest when Port Authority police arrived. He was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital.

There were two additional minor injuries, to the two drivers, and both patients were also taken to Roosevelt Hospital. Everyone else was treated at the scene.

No injuries were reported to bus passengers, though one had a panic attack after the crash.

The delays, as much as 90 minutes at the peak of the backup, extended through most of the morning.

The center tube was closed after the accident occurred, and all traffic was funneled into the south tube. Responders had to slowly back up all traffic out of the center tube, including buses packed with passengers who had to wait an hour before they could step off the bus.

Bus service traveling on River Road and Boulevard East was being diverted to Weehawken Ferry to allow passengers to connect to New York Waterway. Bus route No. 126 was diverted to Hoboken Terminal, and PATH was cross honoring New Jersey Transit tickets and passes.

The center tube reopened at about 12:15 p.m.