Commuter Bus Driver Charged In 10-Vehicle Route 130 Crash: Police

By CARLY BALDWIN (Patch Staff)

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ -- The Lakewood man who was driving a commuter bus that hit nine cars at a traffic light on Route 130 last week has been charged with assault by auto, South Brunswick police said.

Jamal L. Penten, 30, the driver of the Suburban Transit-Coach USA commuter bus, turned himself in at South Brunswick police headquarters Monday afternoon.

A 35-year-old Brick Township man who suffered a fractured back in the crash remains hospitalized, police said.

The crash happened at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, when Penten drove the empty bus into nine cars that had stopped or were stopping for a red traffic signal on Route 130 at Friendship Road, police said.

According to police, the bus was traveling at 50 mph and Penten did not look at the highway in front of him for at least 10 seconds; he was distracted for more than 1,000 feet before the intersection, police said.

Police said Penten did not reduce speed or take evasive action, and did not apply the brakes until after he hit the first car at full speed. The bus traveled another 200 feet, hitting a total of nine vehicles, police said.

Three people were seriously injured in the crash, police said. In addition to the Brick Township man, a 61-year-old woman from Princeton suffered a fractured pelvis and ribs and remains at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, they said. Another man suffered a head laceration, but has since been released from the hospital. Four other drivers were transported to area hospitals due to the crash, police said.

In addition to assault by auto, Penten was charged with reckless driving, following too closely, and obstruction of traffic. He posted $2,500 bail and was released pending his first court appearance.