39 Hurt In 5-Vehicle Turnpike Bus Crash That Backed Up Traffic For Miles: Police

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Nearly 40 people were hurt in a five-vehicle crash involving two buses Sunday on the New Jersey Turnpike, according to police.

The collision happened around 1 p.m. on the northbound turnpike’s outer roadway north of the interchange with U.S. Route 206 in Chesterfield Township, according to preliminary information from authorities.

"Based on a preliminary investigation, two Van Hool buses were traveling northbound on the New Jersey Turnpike when one bus rear-ended the other, causing a chain-reaction collision involving three passenger vehicles traveling behind the buses," according to a summary of the incident provided by state police.

"As a result of the crash, a total of 39 passengers sustained minor injuries and were transported to area hospitals."

The collision caused significant delays Sunday afternoon, with northbound traffic backed up four miles to near the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange in Mansfield Township as of around 3:40 p.m., according to preliminary information.

The crash remained under investigation Sunday night, state police said.