Bergen Co., NJ (April 23, 2026) – A six-vehicle crash on the New Jersey Turnpike northbound left three drivers hurt in Ridgefield on Wednesday, April 23, at approximately 9:07 a.m. The collision occurred near milepost 117.1 in Bergen County.
The crash involved a Motor Coach Industries bus, a Nissan van, a Kia passenger vehicle, a Honda SUV, a Chevrolet passenger vehicle, and a Mercedes-Benz van. The drivers of the Nissan, Kia, and Honda all suffered minor injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital. No other injuries were reported at the scene.
No additional details about what led to the multi-vehicle collision have been released at this time.
Authorities continue to investigate the crash, and more information will be made available as the case develops. Our thoughts are with those hurt as they receive medical care.
What Makes Multi-Vehicle Crashes on New Jersey’s Turnpike So Common?
The New Jersey Turnpike is one of the busiest toll roads in the country, carrying a heavy mix of passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, vans, and buses throughout the day. When traffic slows or stops suddenly, vehicles traveling close together have very little time to react, and a single rear-end impact can quickly set off a chain of collisions involving multiple cars. This type of chain-reaction crash is especially common during morning rush hours when traffic density is at its peak.
Near milepost 117 in Bergen County, the Turnpike runs through a particularly congested stretch close to the George Washington Bridge approach. Merging traffic, lane changes, and varying vehicle speeds all contribute to conditions where a crash can involve many vehicles at once. Buses and large vans have longer stopping distances than passenger cars, which adds another layer of complexity to crashes in mixed traffic.
