New Jersey Holds Hearing On Jitney Buses Following Deadly July Crash
HOBOKEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Lawmakers in New Jersey have begun taking a closer look at jitney buses, in the wake of a July accident that claimed the life of a baby in a stroller.
The Assembly Transportation Committee held a hearing in Hoboken Monday to gather testimony about the operation, regulation and safety of jitneys.
Authorities said a jitney veered off a street in West New York and struck a light pole, which fell onto the stroller and killed 8-month old Angelie Paredes in late July.
The bus then struck a tree, another lamppost and a parked car, which hit three other parked vehicles, police said. Several other people were injured.
Authorities said the bus driver, Idowu Daramola, was using his cellphone at the time of the crash.
The Star-Ledger reported that the child's parents were among those who attended the Monday hearing. They listened to testimony about the potentially dangerous practices that are common in an industry panel chairman John Wisniewski likened to "the Wild West."
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