by Mike Leventhal, Staff Reporter
Tuesday, August 5, 2014 – APB News – Fourteen people were injured when two double-decker buses collided in Times Square Tuesday afternoon, causing a traffic light pole to topple over and smash onto the ground, the NYPD said.
The buses crashed at 7th Avenue and West 47th Street, near the famously red-staircased TKTS booth in the middle of one of the most heavily trafficked areas of New York City. It’s not clear what caused the collision, and the NYPD said investigators will remain on the scene investigating.
Thirteen pedestrians were injured, mainly by the falling light pole and from flying debris from the pole and the bus, FDNY officials said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
A witness said he was walking on the sidewalk near one of the buses when he heard what he first thought was some sort of explosion.
City Officials said emergency responders initially had difficulty getting to the scene because of heavy traffic in the area, and some firefighters rushed to the scene on foot.
All of the injured victims were treated on the scene and some were then transported to local hospitals. Those in the hospital are in stable condition and are expected to be released later in the day.
The NYPD has blocked off the area as they investigate the crash, and the closure is causing gridlock and heavy delays through the evening rush.