Bus Fire Closes Garden State Parkway South In Holmdel

HOLMDEL, NJ — A charter bus that burst into flames has severely backed up traffic on the Garden State Parkway in the Holmdel area. The Parkway southbound in that area is currently closed right now.

This is happening live as of 10 a.m. Thursday: The bus is pulled over near Exit 116 in Holmdel and is fully engulfed in flames. All southbound lanes on the Garden State Parkway are closed near Exit 116 due to the fire.

Everyone appears to be off the bus, witnesses said. There are no injuries, said a member of Holmdel's volunteer first aid squad, which is on the scene now.

"There were several explosions, which was the tires blowing," said volunteer Holmdel EMT Mike Nikolis. "This happened right at the Holmdel Rd. and Hillcrest intersection. The people who got off the bus were standing on the side of the Parkway and some were on Holmdel Road."

Nobody appeared to be injured, and none of the passengers were taken to hospitals, he said.

He said the bus appeared to be carrying mostly senior citizens, and may have been on its way to Atlantic City.

- Video of the burning bus taken by Patch reader Kiersten Castane

Top photo taken by Tania Hansen, and used with her permission.