Fatal Crash Near Newark School Under Investigation: Prosecutor

NEWARK, NJ — A woman died and five people were injured after a car and a NJ Transit bus collided on Tuesday morning in Newark, authorities said.

The crash took place around 6 a.m., according to a joint statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Newark Department of Public Safety.

Prosecutors released the following statement about the crash:

“The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 6 a.m. [Tuesday], a NJ Transit bus was traveling east on Hawthorne Avenue when it was hit by a 2007 Chevy Impala traveling west. It appears that the Impala crossed the double yellow line and entered the eastbound lane, hitting the bus head-on. The incident occurred in front of Hawthorne Avenue School in Newark.”

The driver of the car, Paige N. Graham, 33, of Newark, sustained fatal injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene 6:04 a.m., authorities said.

The driver and four passengers on the bus were transported to University Hospital with minor injuries, authorities said.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department, is investigating the crash, authorities said Tuesday afternoon. No additional information was immediately available.

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