Death Toll Rises To 2 In NJ Turnpike Megabus Crash

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The death toll has now risen to two people killed in Tuesday night's Megabus crash on the New Jersey Turnpike, where a double-decker bus en route to Philadelphia collided with a pick-up truck, and overturned on its side.

One bus passenger was pronounced dead at the scene and a second passenger died later a local hospital, said NJ State Police in a new release Wednesday afternoon.

The two women killed have been identified as Cheryl Johnson, 59, of the Bronx, who was pronounced deceased on the scene. Cecilia Kiyanitza, 66, of Woodbury, NJ was airlifted to an area hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

Three people sustained serious injuries: The bus driver, a 56-year-old man from Westville, N.J. and two passengers.

Additionally, 14 passengers sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and four passengers sustained no injuries.

State Police say the bus driver lost control and struck the Ford pick-up.

At approximately 6:53 p.m., a Van Hool double-decker Coach bus, operated under Megabus, was traveling southbound in the left lane of the Turnpike outer roadway and a Ford F-150 was traveling in the left-center lane next to the bus.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the bus driver lost directional control of the bus in the area of milepost 93.2 and struck the Ford. After the impact, the bus went off the road to the right, struck the guardrail, and overturned onto the Thomas Edison service area entrance ramp.

No injuries were reported to the driver of the Ford. Related: Eyewitness To Fatal NJ Turnpike Megabus Crash Recounts 'Nightmare'

The bus was occupied by the driver and 22 passengers, said State Police, but MegaBus said the bus had 19 people onboard total, including the driver.

The victims were transported to the following area hospitals: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Raritan Bay Medical Center and Staten Island University Hospital.