Lincoln Tunnel accident: 30 hurt, one critically

WEEHAWKEN, N.J. - A motorcyclist is in critical condition and several others have been injured following an accident involving two buses, a jitney and the motorcycle inside the Lincoln Tunnel during the morning rush hour Thursday, CBS 2 New York reports.

Officials were working to reopen the center tube of the tunnel - one of the main arteries into Manhattan - Thursday afternoon.

Port Authority spokeswoman Jennifer Friedberg says the crash happened around 7:27 a.m., about three-quarters of the way toward Manhattan in the tunnel that connects New Jersey and New York City. The accident is under investigation.

The accident caused major traffic headaches for commuters. Traffic delays at the tunnel had been running around two hours late through the morning.

Rescue officials told 1010 WINS radio that the motorcyclist is in extremely critical condition at Bellevue Hospital after being pinned under one of the buses.

Apart from the motorcyclist, the New York fire department says there are were 30 injuries, but none are life-threatening. About half the injured were sent to hospitals.

Port Authority police are having traffic behind the crash site back up to the New Jersey side of the tunnel.

Friedberg says NJ Transit operated two of the buses and Monsey Tours operated the third.

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