On the morning of July 2nd, at around 6 a.m. during the peak commuting hours, three buses were involved in a chain collision while entering the Midtown Manhattan Bus Terminal ramp, resulting in at least 12 injuries. The accident led to the temporary closure of the bus-exclusive ramp leading to the station for several hours, causing disruptions to the commute of many passengers. Bus services resumed to normal around 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
According to the police, the collision involved three buses operated by the New Jersey Transit, and it occurred on a ramp on the third level of the bus terminal.
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) stated that the accident resulted in 12 injuries, with 10 people sustaining minor injuries and being taken to local hospitals for treatment. One person with more serious injuries was transferred to Bellevue Hospital for treatment, while another person refused medical assistance at the scene.
The accident left a large number of commuters stranded on the roads, leading NJ Transit to divert all buses bound for Manhattan to Secaucus Junction, Newark Penn Station, and Hoboken Terminal in New Jersey on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, NJ Transit passengers were able to use their bus tickets to board alternative transportation such as PATH subway and New York Waterway ferry. The cross-system ticket recognition measures for bus tickets were in place until 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
NJ Transit bus services resumed around 10 a.m. on Wednesday but with delays of up to one hour.
At the time of the accident, many passengers were unaware of the transportation changes. They only discovered the halted buses upon arriving at the bus terminal, leading to a brief period of chaos on-site. Many commuters from New Jersey expressed having to switch to other public transportation systems and have notified their companies about possible delays.
Additionally, the overall commuter situation on that morning was challenging. Apart from the bus station accident, delays of up to 20 minutes were reported at New York Penn Station due to a malfunctioning train, and traffic flow towards the Lincoln Tunnel was affected by a car collision, further intensifying the commute pressure.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing, and the precise cause is yet to be determined.