Posted on 05/18/2018 7:56:55 AM PDT by sevinufnine
Authorities are investigating the possibility that the school bus involved in Thursday's fatal crash was making an illegal U-turn when it was hit a dump truck on I-80. Investigators told NBC 4 that video footage from a Department of Transportation camera shows the bus cutting across lanes of traffic to attempt an illegal through a U-turn area for emergency vehicles. The video reportedly shows the dump truck slamming into the bus as it attempts to get onto I-80 eastbound. Officials have not yet spoken to the driver of the bus, who underwent surgery following the crash, NBC 4 says.
(Excerpt) Read more at patch.com ...
The identities of the student and teacher who died were not released, pending notification of family, Gov. Phil Murphy said during an afternoon press conference. However, multiple media reports and social media tributes say it was social studies teacher Jennifer Williamson who was killed.
Many of those taken to the hospital were in critical condition on Thursday, with several undergoing surgery. Murphy declined to elaborate on the types of injuries.
From what I’m reading both bus and truck drivers are at fault. Apparently in NJ large trucks are forbidden to drive in the left lane where the impact occurred.
Now the photos make sense.
Being in the wrong lane is minor compared to trying an illegal U turn on that road.
In New Jersey the left lane is for passing only. You could never tell just from observing though. Cars and trucks are constantly glued to the left lane and it is very annoying and dangerous
Just another of the very many reasons to homeschool.
“Just another of the very many reasons to homeschool. “
—
Or live in a community where kids walk to school,as mine did.
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Kudos to the New Jersey "internet warriors" who raised this possibility yesterday very soon after the crash. Once it was reported that the bus was traveling to Waterloo Village for a class trip, folks who are familiar with the area noted that the crash took place PAST Exit 25 on I-80, which is where the bus should have gotten off the highway.
I thought they were on a field trip?
Nice to finally figure out its NJ!
“Being in the wrong lane is minor compared to trying an illegal U turn on that road.”
I agree, but had it not been there’s a possibility the wreck wouldn’t have happened, or been much, less severe.
Yes, the driver missed the exit and was attempting a U turn, unbelievable. I guess we’ll have to spend money to equip all school buses with NO U TURN placards.
“Although I’m sure there are many good school bus drivers, I see a LOT of them blow through/roll through stop signs and lights”
My son’s bus driver in middle school was same guy/same route my husband had in high school. Yeah, he was pretty old. Guy named Cecil. Anyway, one day my son missed the bus, so while driving him I noticed the stop sign on the corner of our road was knocked over. Said...I wonder what happened there? My son said...Cecil probably hit it. He hits them all the time. EGADS!!! Hopefully the fellow has retired by now.
“The media has been trying very hard to blame the dump truck for the accident.”
Yeah, I noticed that.
Did this happen at the wide u-turn area just before the long hill in Morris County where the left lane traffic slows to a 50-60 mph crawl? The troopers always seem to be there.
Just the other day I saw a skool bus run a red light, but there’s nothing unusual about that, or speeding.
You're looking at a Google Map aerial view of the Exit 25 interchange.
1. If you look up to the top right of the image, you can see Waterloo Valley Road a little ways up Route 206. The westbound bus was supposed to get off the highway at Exit 25.
2. The crash occurred on the westbound side of I-80, and if the bus was making a U-turn then it was probably that strip of asphalt you see in the grass median just to the right (east) of the International Drive overpass. The photos you may have seen in various media reports that appear to be taken through a chain-link fence above the crash scene were probably taken from this overpass.
3. Here's something else to think about ... If the bus was making a U-turn and entering westbound I-80 at this location, then it must have already driven past the exit, made a U-turn down the road at another location, and then come back to this location on eastbound I-80 and crossed the median at this crossover point for police and official vehicles. Even if it had managed to get back safely onto I-80 westbound, it STILL would have been past the exit ramp for Waterloo Village. I wouldn't discount the possibility that the driver was trying to make a reckless, idiotic maneuver to cross the westbound lanes and go up the entrance ramp to I-80 from Route 206.
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