Bus crash sends 16 to hospital

Sixteen people, including one in critical condition, were sent to hospitals after a bus carrying temporary workers careered down an I-95 off-ramp in Port Richmond and overturned Monday afternoon, authorities said.

The driver told police the brakes had failed on the bus carrying 22 people, including the driver, as it sped down an exit ramp from I-95 to a T-intersection with East Westmoreland Street at 2:36 p.m., said police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore.

"The driver yelled he had no brakes," said Brett Cusatis, 26, who was on the bus when it crashed.

The bus is owned by Del Val Staffing L.L.C., a company that provides temp workers, Vanore said. In this case, it was transporting workers from Bellmawr, Camden County.

A person who answered the phone at Del Val Staffing, on Torresdale Avenue in the city's Tacony section, said the company had no comment. The company describes itself on its website as a "premier workforce management solution provider."

Del Val Staffing had a lawyer at the scene of the accident, Vanore said.

Cusatis, of West Philadelphia, was among the laborers on the bus returning to Kensington after a day of working at J&J Snack Foods.

The bus had always turned left on the way to dropping off the workers at the intersection of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues, Cusatis said.

"I saw he was making a right instead of a left at a really high speed," Cusatis said.

The blue bus with yellow stripes fishtailed into a telephone pole. The impact sheared off the top of the back of the former school bus.

Cusatis, who was riding near the back, was thrown from the now-gaping hole in the rear of the vehicle and landed on the pavement. He declined medical treatment, as did five other workers.

"I feel pretty lucky," he said.

A man sitting a few rows behind him also was ejected from the bus, and Cusatis said his "head was split open."

Vanore said one passenger was in critical condition at Hahnemann University Hospital. Fifteen other passengers were taken to other area hospitals.

At least 11 medic units responded to the scene, said Executive Fire Chief Daniel Williams.

The six others who were not taken to hospitals were questioned by police and then driven away in a private van.

A representative from J&J Snack Foods could not be reached for comment.