School Bus Overturns on Garden State Parkway

A New York-bound school bus carrying 31 passengers overturned on the Garden State Parkway in Bergen County on Monday, injuring 14 children and the driver. The New Jersey State Police said the northbound bus veered off the highway, overturning near the James Gandolfini Service Area in Montvale.

Authorities said that a 14-year-old boy was thrown from the bus and pinned underneath with serious injuries. Firefighters worked to lift the bus and rescue the teen, who is listed in critical condition at a nearby hospital. The other 14 suffered minor injuries and were treated and released.

The bus was traveling from Lakewood to New York State, carrying Yeshiva students to an event celebrating the birth of a rabbi’s grandchild. Officials have not released what caused the bus to overturn, and the crash remains under investigation.

Due to their high center of gravity, school buses are more prone to overturning compared to other vehicles. A bus’s elevated center of gravity can make it unstable, especially in sharp turns or sudden maneuvers, resulting in an increased risk of overturning.

In rollover accidents, the lack of seat belts on buses often causes students to be thrown from their seats, resulting in severe fractures, head injuries, and critical impact injuries. Students are also frequently ejected from the bus during rollover accidents, becoming pinned under the bus or trapped inside, leading to critical conditions requiring immediate medical attention.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle crash, contact Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC at 732-920-8383 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation. Located in Manasquan and Brick, New Jersey, we proudly serve clients in Middlesex County, Atlantic County, Mercer County, Monmouth County, and Ocean County.