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They have identified the dead woman as Velma Castro but said they had no other information about her yet.
There were 23 occupants in the Ford Econoline passenger, which landed on its roof against the parkway divider across from southbound Exit 159 following the 7:30 p.m. crash, NJSP Sgt. Brian Polite told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
At least seven victims were immediately taken to the hospital, three with serious head injuries, after emergency workers pulled them from the wreckage, a law enforcement official told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
As reported earlier, the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Unit was quickly summoned to the scene, along with no fewer than six ambulances.
Five people were immediately taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson and two — an adult and child — were brought to Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, the law enforcement official said.
At least three more were also hospitalized, authorities later confirmed.
The #163 bus had finished its route and was headed to the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan with no passengers when it collided with the passenger van, said Bill Smith, an NJ Transit spokesman. The bus driver complained of neck and back pain, Smith told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Among the many first responders were ambulance crews from Saddle Brook, Elmwood Park, Lodi and St. Joseph’s.
Traffic was diverted off the Parkway at the exit for several hours before the right lane was opened late tonight.
PHOTO: Courtesy News12 New Jersey
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