15 Injured in Bus Accident on Garden State Parkway in Montvale, NJ

Bergen County, NJ — March 10, 2025, 15 people were injured in a bus accident at about 7:30 p.m. on the Garden State Parkway in Montvale.

Authorities said a school bus was on its way from Lakewood, NJ, to Rockland County, NY, when it veered off the right side of the road near exit 171 and overturned.

One passenger, a 14-year-old boy, suffered serious injuries in the crash, according to authorities. Fourteen others, including the bus driver, were hurt.

The bus had 31 people on it when it crashed near the James Gandolfini Service Area, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Bergen County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a school bus veers off the road and overturns, the most pressing question is why the driver lost control in the first place. In this case, reports indicate that a bus carrying 31 people ran off the Garden State Parkway and overturned, leaving multiple people injured. A full investigation should determine whether this was the result of driver error, mechanical failure or external factors like road conditions.

One of the first things investigators should examine is whether the driver was distracted, fatigued, or impaired. School bus drivers are expected to be highly trained professionals, but long routes and late evening trips can increase the risk of fatigue. Did the driver misjudge a curve, overcorrect or fail to react in time? Reviewing surveillance footage from inside the bus and checking the driver’s work schedule for signs of overwork could be important.

Another factor is road and weather conditions. The crash happened in the evening, when visibility is reduced. Was the road wet or slippery? Were there strong winds that could have affected the bus’s stability? If external conditions contributed to the driver losing control, that should be part of the investigation.

Mechanical failure should also be considered. Did the bus experience a tire blowout, brake failure or steering issue that made it impossible to stay on the road? A full mechanical inspection of the bus should be conducted to rule out any equipment failures.

Finally, seating positions and safety restraints inside the bus should be reviewed. Were all passengers properly seated? Did the bus have seat belts, and were they in use? School buses are designed with safety in mind, but rollovers still pose a significant risk, particularly for unrestrained passengers.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to say exactly what caused this crash. But if authorities focus only on where the bus crashed without investigating why it veered off the road — whether due to driver fatigue, mechanical failure or environmental conditions — they risk missing key details. A full investigation should consider all possible factors to ensure a complete understanding of what went wrong.