Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Clifton Police Chief Thomas Rinaldi announce that on July 22, 2024, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office received information from the Clifton Police Department that a motor vehicle crash occurred resulting in an explosion. A commercial truck traveling on Route 3 East in Clifton clipped a New Jersey Transit Bus carrying 29 passengers before crashing into a barrier causing the vehicle to catch fire. After the fire was brought under control by members of the Clifton Fire Department, the body of the driver, Luis Santiago, a 55-year-old male from Linden, New Jersey, was discovered. There were no reported injuries to any of the passengers on the New Jersey Transit Bus.
The cause of the vehicle crash is undetermined at this time. This investigation is active and ongoing. More information will be released when it becomes available.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org.