At least 12 people were injured Wednesday when a garbage truck rolled off a New Jersey overpass and into a commuter bus on a roadway near the Lincoln Tunnel, snarling traffic on one of the busiest travel days of the year, according to reports.
The Union City Department of Public Works truck plunged off an overpass at Palisade Avenue and overturned onto Route 495 westbound in Union City around 1 p.m., a Port Authority spokesman said, according to NorthJersey.com.
The truck crashed into a BoltBus when it rolled off the overpass, according to the outlet.
Shocking photos show the orange truck flipped over and leaning up against a stone retaining wall alongside the overpass.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed 12 people were taken to area hospitals for treatment. Two of those injured were inside the garbage truck, but officials could not immediately say how the other 10 were hurt.
The crash shut down Route 495 in both directions and suspended all bus service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal just as many people are traveling the day before the Fourth of July.
Limited New Jersey-bound bus service resumed around 5 p.m., the agency said.
The Lincoln Tunnel remained closed to westbound drivers as of 5:47 p.m., with officials diverting drivers to the Holland Tunnel or the George Washington Bridge.
NJ Transit rail, PATH and NY Waterways were cross-honoring tickets and passes for bus passengers.
Officials are encouraging drivers to avoid traveling via the Lincoln Tunnel and to instead use the Holland Tunnel or the George Washington Bridge as an alternate route.
Union City officials did not immediately return a request for comment.
Additional reporting by Stephanie Pagones and David Meyer