Bus From NJ Flips In PA Multi-Vehicle Crash; 5 Dead, 60 Injured

GREENSBURG, PA - A bus from New Jersey flipped in a multi-vehicle crash that left five people dead and at least 60 injured on Sunday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The victims ranged in age from 7 years old to age 60 or older.

Turnpike commission spokesman Carl DeFebo said the deadly accident at 3:40 a.m. involved a tour bus, two tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles. The tour bus flipped on its side.

The Z & D Tours bus left Rockaway in Morris County and was destined for Cincinnati, Pennsylvania State Police spokesman Trooper Stephen Limani said during a press conference posted by WLWT.

Limani said some of the passengers were Japanese-speaking and Spanish-speaking, but he didn't know if they were coming from a specific event. He said the majority of people were from other countries.

He said the bus was traveling on downhill grade and was unable to negotiate a corner. The bus went up an embankment, rolled over and was struck by two tractor-trailers.

Another truck collided with those two tractor-trailers, and another passenger vehicle was involved, he said.

The accident occurred at milepost 86 westbound in Westmoreland County, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and National Transportation Safety Board investigators were being dispatched to the site.

An 86-mile stretch of the turnpike between the New Stanton and Breezewood exists was closed in both directions. DeFebo said a prolonged closure of the road is likely.