What to Know
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- Authorities have identified the driver killed in a dramatic tractor-trailer explosion that took down a highway wall in New Jersey earlier this week — and they’re sharing more details on the circumstances of the crash.
- According to investigators, Luis Santiago, of Linden, was the man behind the wheel of the commercial truck that clipped an NJ Transit bus on Route 3 East in Clifton and then crashed into a barrier, causing the vehicle to catch fire.
- There were 29 passengers on the NJ Transit bus at the time. None were hurt.
New Jersey officials have released information on the driver who died in the tractor-trailer explosion that caused a highway wall to collapse earlier this week. The authorities have identified the driver and are shedding more light on the events leading up to the crash.
Investigators have identified Luis Santiago, a resident of Linden, as the driver of the commercial truck that collided with an NJ Transit bus on Route 3 East in Clifton. Following the collision, the truck crashed into a barrier, resulting in a fire.
All 29 passengers onboard the NJ Transit bus were fortunately unharmed during the incident.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the trucking company, the loaded truck contained non-toxic materials that were both flammable and corrosive. Placards affixed to the truck clearly indicated that it was carrying an explosive chemical. Unfortunately, some of the materials did spill during transit. Police officers who arrived at the scene were met with additional explosions.
A video shot on a cellphone captured an astounding explosion on the road. In the footage, a firefighter can be seen coming dangerously close to a flaming barrel that was launched into the air.
The video of the chemical-hauling tractor-trailer explosion on Route 3 was released by authorities on Tuesday. The incident occurred on Monday morning just after 9 a.m. in the eastbound lanes between East Valley Road and Grove Street. The road was closed for over 24 hours due to the explosion.