2 New Jersey commuter buses collide, killing 1, injuring 18

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Two commuter buses slammed into each other in the heart of New Jersey's largest city this morning, killing one of the drivers and injuring 18 people, seven critically, authorities said.

The person killed was the driver of a New Jersey Transit bus that had no passengers when it slammed into the side of another NJ Transit bus carrying about 20 passengers at around 6 a.m.

"We're praying for all of those in the hospital," Mayor Ras Baraka said.

Jennifer Petrain was opening up a Starbucks about 100 yards from where the accident occurred. She said she heard a crash "like an explosion" and ran outside. She said she and a co-worker brought ice water, rags and a first aid kit.

"We were there before anybody was on the scene," Petrain said. "It was terrible. We saw people with head injuries, leg injuries."

Investigators were trying to determine if the driver who died ran a red light, Baraka said.

The intersection was the first in the state, in 2009, to feature a surveillance camera designed to catch people running red lights. Then-Mayor Cory Booker conducted a demonstration in which he purposely rode through a red light.