Driver Cutting Across Route 46 Broadsided By Private Bus: Police

An Ohio driver putting his own twist on the Jersey Slide found out the hard way what it'll get you.

At the scene.
Photo Credit: *Fairfield PD*

10/27/2024 9:08 a.m.

A 22-year-old Kia Soul operator pulled out of the Plato's Closet parking lot at 137 Route 46 West and crossed both westbound lanes of the highway to try to enter an emergency vehicle U-turn cut to try to get over to Route 46 East in Fairfield around 7:30 p.m., Fairfield Police Officer Stacy Chiarolanza said.

The Kia was then hit broadside on the driver’s side by the bus, as the bus driver had no time to avoid the crash, police said. Photos from the scene show the bus was a private bus owned by Lakeland Bus Lines.

Officers found the Soul partially on the median and partially in the left lane of Route 46 East. The two occupants of the Kia had got out of the vehicle and were lying on the median.

Officers rendered medical attention to the pair until the arrival of the West Essex First Aid Squad who then transported both to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. None of the 26 occupants on the bus reported being injured in the crash.

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