Lincoln Tunnel Closed After Buses Collide, Causing Traffic Jams And Injuries In Manhattan-Bound Tube

Over a dozen people were injured Wednesday morning when two buses collided in the Lincoln Tunnel, one of the busiest routes for New York commuters. Police closed the Manhattan-bound center tube after a New Jersey Transit bus rammed into the back of a private bus at about 9:30 a.m., which caused at least 18 injuries and traffic jams, according to local news stations.

People injured in the accident were transported to local hospitals. Some people were removed from the tunnel on stretchers, but none of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening, WABC in New York reported. Authorities shut down the center tube and diverted Manhattan-bound traffic to the south tube, causing reported delays of up to 90 minutes for those traveling into New York, WNBC in New York said.

The Lincoln Tunnel is a vital conduit of the New York metropolitan area, comprising three tunnels under the Hudson River that connect Manhattan and New Jersey. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey estimates 42 million vehicles a year travel through the tunnel, according to the Associated Press.