At least a dozen individuals sustained injuries following a collision involving two buses near the Port Authority Bus Terminal on Wednesday morning, causing significant disruptions in midtown Manhattan traffic during the peak of the rush hour. Emergency services responded to reports of the incident at approximately 6 a.m. on West 41st Street, where a bus reportedly rear-ended another on a fourth-level ramp.
A total of 12 people were injured in the crash, and while they are all expected to recover, one person had to be extricated from the vehicle and was being evaluated at a hospital for what officials described as “moderate” injuries. The exact cause of the accident is currently under investigation, with initial reports suggesting that one of the bus drivers might have experienced a medical emergency.
In the wake of the accident, the Port Authority Bus Terminal was temporarily closed, significantly affecting travel. NJ Transit buses were rerouted to Secaucus, Newark Penn Station, and Hoboken, requiring passengers to take the PATH train to complete their journeys into New York City. Traffic delays through the Lincoln Tunnel reached approximately one hour.
This incident underscores the importance of road safety and the need to address potential medical emergencies among drivers to prevent future occurrences. Fortunately, the injuries reported were not life-threatening, and the community can be hopeful for the swift recovery of those affected.