An early morning bus accident just north of Carnegie Drive sent the driver, who was alone in the vehicle, to the University Medical Center at Plainsboro. Although he had to be extricated by rescue and fire personnel, his injuries were not life-threatening. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton Police Department)

At 7:12 a.m. on Tuesday, a Coach USA Suburban bus traveling north on Route 27 crashed into a tree just north of Carnegie Drive. According to the Princeton Police Department, the vehicle swerved when it approached the rear of a 2002 Subaru wagon that had stopped facing north to turn into a private driveway.

The bus swerved to the right and struck the Subaru’s right rear bumper with it’s left front end, according to police. The bus continued to veer right and hit a tree by the roadside.

No passengers were traveling on the bus, which was enroute from Princeton to New York at the time. The driver, Derek Roberts, 53, was hurt, but his injuries are not life-threatening, police said. He was transported to the University Medical Center at Plainsboro after being extricated from the bus by Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad with assistance from the Princeton Fire Department.

Kingston resident Tim Chase was taking his children to school when he passed the bus just a few minutes after the accident. “The police had just gotten there with a couple of fire and rescue people and they were walking toward the bus,” he said. “You could see the driver kind of crushed against the glass, and he wasn’t moving.”

Mr. Chase was relieved to hear the driver’s injuries were not life-threatening. “It looked like the tree was right at his feet,” he said.

The impact caused extensive damage to the front end of the bus, which was towed from the scene by Stewart’s Towing of Belle Mead. The Subaru sustained damage to its body and undercarriage and was towed from the scene by Kovi Towing of Rocky Hill. The driver, 60-year-old Ted McKnight of Princeton, was not injured.

Princeton-Kingston Road remained open while the investigation was carried out, but traffic was limited to one lane. The section of the roadway has a slight curve, which has caused problems in the past. The crash is still under investigation. No summonses had been issued as of Tuesday afternoon.