CTTransit bus crash in East Haven

EAST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- 22 people were taken to the hospital Monday morning after a CTTransit bus was rear-ended by a truck in East Haven.

The crash happened around 7:20 on Frontage Road in front of T.J. Maxx and Chilis. The bus was stopped and a passenger was loading his bicycle onto the rack in front when the bus was hit from behind by a large red service truck carrying kitchen grease.

The impact pushed the bus forward about 100 feet. The passenger with the bicycle hit the windshield, was knocked to the ground and ended up under the bus.

Several ambulances, along with fire department and police were on the scene within minutes of the crash. Several people were taken away on stretchers. At least four of the injuries are serious, officials told News 8.

Some of the passengers were treated right on the side of the road.

"It was crazy, I mean people laying down people, having neck braces," said Marisol Vasquez.

The bus driver made sure passengers were getting the help they needed.

"The bus driver stayed on scene until pretty much the end," said Fire Chief Doug Jackson. "He wasn't, he didn't appear to be that heavily hurt and he was taking care of his passengers."

The driver of the truck was among those taken to the hospital.

The CTTransit bus was equipped with a camera and what it picked up may give police the real story of exactly what happened.

"The speed limit is 35. Right now we don't now how fast the truck was going," said Sgt Joseph Slane.

Frontage Road parallels I-95 and is very busy. Vasquez, who usually rides that very bus, says she always worries while waiting at the stop.
    
"It's a in bad spot," she says. "They should have it come into the plaza and out the other way."

Police plan to talk to each passenger, so it could be weeks before the investigation is complete.

CTTransit officials say there were 29 people on the bus that was headed to downtown New Haven.
    
Another CTTransit bus took the passengers who were not injured to their final destinations.