School Bus, Van Collide on I-195, Leaving Children Injured

A bus driver and four students sustained injuries when a school bus collided with a GMC van and overturned on I-195 in New Jersey Thursday morning, prompting an emergency response and highway closure.

Key Insights

The accident occurred around 7:30 a.m. on I-195 in Wall Township when a school bus heading to Communications High School collided with a GMC van.
Four students were injured, with one child suffering serious injuries, while the bus driver sustained minor injuries; the van driver was unharmed.
This was not the only recent school bus accident in New Jersey.
Despite the incident, school buses remain among the safest vehicles on the road, with less than 1% of traffic fatalities involving children on school transportation.
The Monmouth County Vocational School District is reviewing the incident while working with authorities to ensure proper safety measures.

Collision Details and Emergency Response

A bus crash occurred Thursday morning at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Interstate 195 in Wall Township, Monmouth County. The school bus, operated by private company Seaman-Tov, was transporting students to Communications High School when it collided with a GMC van, causing the bus to overturn. Video footage captured the bus lying on its side with significant damage, including a hole in the roof that appears to have been used as an emergency exit for evacuation. The impact left the bus with extensive damage while the GMC van suffered front-end damage.

Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, tending to the injured and securing the area. Three children and the bus driver sustained minor injuries, while one child suffered serious injuries. All five were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The driver of the GMC van reportedly escaped without injury. The eastbound lanes of I-195 were closed for several hours following the collision as investigators worked to determine the cause and clear the wreckage.

New Jersey school bus crashes and flips, injuring 4 kids and driver https://t.co/z9wnXQdRRn

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) March 27, 2025

School District Response and Safety Concerns

The Monmouth County Vocational School District quickly addressed the incident, reaching out to parents and the community. In a statement following the crash, district officials emphasized their commitment to student safety while the investigation proceeds. “We understand that this may cause concern, and we want to reassure you that student safety remains our top priority,” the district stated in its communication to parents. Officials further noted, “We are working closely with authorities and the transportation company to review the incident and ensure all safety measures are in place.”

This accident was one of two school bus crashes that occurred in New Jersey on the same morning. In Franklin Township, two school buses collided around 8 a.m., resulting in injuries to a 9-year-old boy who required hospitalization. Even more concerning, these incidents happened less than three weeks after another school bus accident on the Garden State Parkway that sent 14 children to the hospital, including one in critical condition.

School Bus Safety Record and Standards

Despite these concerning incidents, national statistics indicate that school buses remain exceptionally safe vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses are among the safest modes of transportation, with less than 1% of all traffic fatalities involving children on school transportation vehicles. From 2013 to 2022, 111 occupants were killed in school transportation vehicles nationwide, including 50 drivers and 61 passengers – a remarkably low number considering the millions of children transported daily.

School buses feature multiple safety elements designed specifically to protect students, including flashing lights, cross-view mirrors, stop-sign arms, protective seating, and rollover protection features. Large school buses utilize a safety concept called “compartmentalization,” which includes closely spaced seats with energy-absorbing seat backs to create protective compartments for passengers. Additionally, strict laws in every state prohibit passing stopped school buses that have extended stop-arms and activated red flashing lights, providing further protection for children boarding or exiting these vehicles. Still, the agency stresses the importance of following proper safety measures around school buses.