Essex County Man Charged with Assault After Crashing Into NJ Transit Bus

An Essex County man who smashed into the side of a Bloomfield-bound NJ Transit bus – critically injuring his passenger and injuring six others – is not currently being charged with driving under the influence despite earlier news reports that he was drunk at the time of the crash.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, shortly before 2 a.m. on Friday, a New Jersey Transit bus was traveling north on South 8th Street in Newark when it was involved in a collision with a 1998 Cadillac Eldorado that was traveling east on Central Avenue.

At least six people, including the bus driver, were injured in the crash and taken to University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to authorities, the driver of the Cadillac, Andre Price, 27, of Newark, initially fled the scene of the collision and was later found at a nearby gas station.

His passenger, a 39-year-old man, is hospitalized in critical condition, reported authorities.

Police charged Price with aggravated assault by auto and leaving the scene of crash with serious bodily injury. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office obtained a search warrant to take blood from the driver of the Cadillac, but as of Friday afternoon, he has not been charged with driving while under the influence.

The investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.