Woman killed in Newark bus crash was headed to factory job, daughter says

NEWARK — Authorities have released the name of a passenger killed when two commuter buses slammed into each other in downtown Newark, a crash that also killed a driver and injured 17 people.

Essex County prosecutors say 49-year-old Jesy Garcia was taken to a hospital after Friday morning's accident but died there several hours later. Her name was released Saturday.

Garcia's daughter told NJ.com that her mother was headed to her job at a factory when the crash occurred around 6 a.m. at a downtown intersection.

Authorities say a New Jersey Transit bus that was just starting its route and carrying no passengers slammed into the side of another NJ Transit bus carrying Garcia and about 20 other passengers.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said investigators would be reviewing surveillance video from the area.

The dead driver was identified as Joseph Barthelus, a Union Township resident.

On Friday afternoon, one passenger was still listed in critical condition at a city hospital. Several more were in serious condition.