Massive fire engulfs NJ Transit bus after blowing out tire on turnpike near Newark Airport
NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- A massive fire engulfed a New Jersey Transit bus after blowing out a tire on the New Jersey Turnpike on Tuesday.
NewsCopter 7 was over the northbound side of the turnpike just past Newark Liberty International Airport, where flames could be seen erupting from a bus.
New Jersey Transit officials said the 114-line bus, operating from Bridgewater to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City, experienced a tire blowout on the northbound side of the turnpike near Exit 14 in Newark.
Eyewitness News spoke to passengers who were on board at the time, and said that after bus struck a pothole, passengers came running to the front of the bus to alert the driver that the bus was on fire.
The driver then pulled over to the left lane and opened the doors. About 25 to 30 passengers had to safely navigate traffic to avoid the burning bus.
The Newark Fire Department arrived on the scene within minutes, and quickly put out the fire. Passengers were accommodated by another bus.
Port Authority New York/New Jersey told commuters to expect delays in the north tube of the Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey due to a disabled bus.
New Jersey State Police are leading the investigation.
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