Plymouth Meeting, PA — January 30, 2025, five people were injured in a bus accident at about 6 p.m. on Germantown Pike.

Authorities said a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority bus was involved in a crash with another vehicle.

The bus driver and four passengers were injured in the crash, according to authorities. Their injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

It is not clear how many passengers were on the Route 98 bus at the time of the crash.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time. The accident remains under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I hear about a crash involving a public transit bus, my first question is, “What were the movements of both vehicles leading up to the collision?” Many people assume that buses, due to their size and professional drivers, are less likely to be at fault in a crash, but in my experience, these incidents often require a deeper look at both driver behavior and road conditions.

One of the first things investigators should determine is whether the bus was in motion, stopped for passengers or making a turn when the crash occurred. Transit buses frequently pull in and out of traffic, and if another driver wasn’t paying attention, they may not have had enough time to react. At the same time, if the bus driver was merging improperly or making a turn without enough clearance, that could also be a contributing factor. Reviewing traffic camera footage or dashcam recordings would provide clarity on how the vehicles came into contact.

Another key factor is visibility and road design. Germantown Pike is a busy road with multiple lanes and intersections, which means congestion could have played a role. Was traffic heavy at the time of the crash? Were there obstructions that made it difficult for drivers to see the bus or the other vehicle? Investigators should also consider whether poor road markings or unclear signage may have contributed to confusion between the drivers.

Bus passenger injuries also raise questions about the force of impact. Did the sudden stop throw passengers forward, or was the crash severe enough to cause structural damage to the bus? Public transit buses typically don’t have seatbelts, which means even a moderate impact can cause injuries to standing or seated passengers. Investigators should determine whether the way the crash happened increased the risk of injuries inside the bus.

At this stage, too little is known to determine exactly what led to this crash, but that’s why a thorough investigation is necessary. Looking at vehicle movements, road conditions and driver actions will be key to understanding how this wreck happened and whether anything could have been done differently to prevent it.