A third teenager has died after the car she was in crashed into a New Jersey Transit bus Memorial Day.
The unidentified teen and her two friends died while one dozen people were injured as the 502 Line bus and a car collided in Pleasantville, N.J. Monday afternoon.
NJ Transit officials say the bus had left from a terminal in Atlantic City en route to the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing. As the bus was traveling along North Franklin Boulevard and Old Turnpike shortly before 2 p.m., the red vehicle suddenly went into its path.
According to investigators, the car was traveling on Franklin Boulevard when it crossed over the center line.
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"For some odd reason the red car crossed over the center line and it was a head-on collision with the bus," said Sergeant Emory Silipigni of the Pleasantville Police Department. "The bus tried to swerve out of the way but was unsuccessful."
As the bus swerved in an attempt to escape the collision, the vehicle barreled down a sidewalk towards pedestrians who narrowly avoided being struck.
"I really feel thankful to be alive," said Michael Almeyda. "It just kept coming closer to me."
Police say five people were inside the car at the time of the accident. According to sources, everyone inside the car was under the age of 20.
Two passengers, a young man and woman, died in the crash. A third person died overnight -- police didn't reveal if that victim was the 18-year-old driver or one of her other passengers.
"You just heard the tire burning on the street," said Manuel Cabral, another witness. "Then there was a big impact. It was crazy. Metal against metal."
Officials also say 10 people on the bus were hurt in the crash.
While North Franklin Boulevard is a 25 mph zone, witnesses tell NBC10 they believe the driver of the red car was traveling around 60 mph moments before the collision. Investigators have not yet confirmed this however. They continue to investigate the accident.
