Newark, NJ — August 12, 2025, 14 people were injured in a bus accident at about 10:45 a.m. at the intersection of 15th Avenue and Bedford Street.
Authorities said a NJ Transit bus collided with a Public Service Enterprise Group utility truck that had been working at the intersection. The impact knocked the truck into a utility pole, knocking out power to nearby homes and businesses.
Both drivers and 12 passengers from the bus were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after the crash, according to authorities. Their names have not been made public at this time.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Essex County crash. The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear about a crash between a bus and a utility truck that leaves more than a dozen people injured, their first question is usually: How does something like that even happen? You’ve got a public transit vehicle full of passengers and a utility crew working a known job site; neither situation should come as a surprise to the other. So the real issue becomes: What went wrong, and who allowed it to?
We know from reports that the utility truck was working at the intersection when the NJ Transit bus collided with it. But that leaves us with several unanswered questions that are essential to getting to the bottom of this:
- Was the truck stationary, or was it moving through the intersection at the time of the crash?
- If the truck was parked for work, was it clearly marked and positioned according to standard safety protocols?
- Was the bus driver distracted, speeding or trying to maneuver around the work zone?
Each of these unknowns could drastically change how we view responsibility. For example, if the utility truck was parked improperly — say, too far into the intersection or without the required signage and cones — that would raise serious questions about the procedures used by the company operating the truck. Utility work comes with strict safety expectations for a reason.
On the other hand, if the bus driver failed to yield or wasn’t paying attention while entering an active work zone, then a different set of concerns comes into play. Bus operators are trained professionals, but that doesn’t rule out driver error, especially if the investigation finds that the driver was distracted, speeding or made a last-minute decision.
Getting to the truth in cases like this often depends on things that go beyond witness statements. Dash cam footage from the bus, GPS data and surveillance video from nearby businesses can provide real insight into what each vehicle was doing in the seconds before the collision. Likewise, company records from both NJ Transit and the utility contractor can reveal whether workers and drivers followed proper procedures or cut corners.
The fact that power was knocked out to nearby homes and businesses also adds another layer. That suggests a forceful impact, likely more than a low-speed tap. It’s possible that even if both parties were doing their jobs correctly, a momentary lapse or misjudgment by one could have set off a chain reaction.
At this point, the only thing we can say with certainty is that there’s more to this crash than the surface details suggest. Only a full investigation — one that looks at safety protocols, driver behavior and available electronic evidence — will provide the answers.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s not yet clear whether the utility truck was moving or stationary at the time of the crash, and that distinction is critical to assigning responsibility.
- Safety protocols for utility work zones and bus operations both come under scrutiny in this kind of incident.
- Dash cam footage, GPS data and surveillance video are essential tools to determine what happened in the moments leading up to the collision.
- Company policies and procedures, on both sides, may reveal lapses in training, oversight or execution.
- A crash involving a public transit vehicle and utility crew demands a rigorous investigation to ensure accountability, not just assumptions.
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