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Union City, NJ - “Send everyone!”, was the call from an unmarked police unit on Palisade Avenue, after the city official observed a city garbage truck crash over barriers and plummet, cab first, down to the I-495 depressed highway, under the Palisade Avenue bridge.

Twelve people were injured when the bright orange Department of Public Works garbage truck was involved in a major accident that began in front of the main post office at Palisade Ave. and 30th Street, July 3rd. This caused a traffic nightmare in North Hudson and New York City during the holiday week.

The truck driver later said to the media, “I lost the brake.” The truck struck several vehicles at the intersection. It then continued to knock down obstacles that included a light pole and clock tower, and then it crashed through the barrier above I-495 westbound and landed on the highway, up against a stone wall. The knocked-down clock tower stopped working at 12:56 P.M. This all occurred a short distance from the helix leading to the Lincoln Tunnel.

This accident was described as “bizarre” by a local TV news station. One TV reporter said he constantly travels on the route, the main conduit of the Linclon Tunnel, to go to and from stories and to commute.

According to a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman, the truck struck a passing Bolt Bus that was traveling on Route 495. An auto stopped in front of the bus had a metal bar through the windshield, stopping just shy of the driver.

Emergency units were sent to the intersection and the highway below. The North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue dispatched a rescue assignment to the scene. Those units were initially dispatched to the intersection above the depressed highway where there were many victims inside the struck autos that needed extrication and medical assistance.

An amateur video shows other drivers coming to the aid of the two city workers in the cab of the truck to assist them in getting out of same. They were also helped by city police Sergeants Rubin Rodriguez, David Dunlay and P.O. William Vanderhost. Port Authority Bridge and Tunnel emergency agents from the Lincoln Tunnel also assisted with victims on the highway.

Along with the North Hudson fire units, city and area ambulances raced to the 30th Street intersection where they assisted victims out of several crushed vehicles. North Hudson fire companies also worked with emergency crews on 495. After extricating some people at street level, Rescue Co. 1 and other units, under the command of Deputy Chief Anthony Venezia, reported to the depressed highway under the Palisade Avenue bridge. Firefighters assisted in stabilizing the truck until it could be removed.

The victims were taken to three area hospitals. A local official said they were all in “stable condition.”

Emergency units that also reported to the scene for assistance included the Hudson County Sheriff's accident investigation unit, and police from the Port Authority, Weehawken, North Bergen and West New York. Responding medical crews included Weehawken, North Bergen, McCabe Ambulance and the Jersey City Medical Center.

Bus routes were shut down going to and from Manhattan. Representatives from the Department of Transportation and engineers also reported to the scene.

Four heavy duty wreckers were used to upright the garbage truck, with one operating on the depressed highway and three from the streets above. This was accomplished around 5:00 P.M. The incident was also being investigated by accident specialists during this time.

Due to the duration of the incident on a warm and humid afternoon, the Jersey City Gong Club canteen was called to the highway to supply water and wet towels to first responders and towing crews. The westbound highway was opened around 7:00 P.M.

Miraculously, no one was killed in the densely populated area. The truck driver, Eulalio Diaz, was released from the hospital a day later. In addition to three injured ribs, he suffered a fractured arm and lacerations to the head.

“It got accelerated and I couldn't control it,” he told a local TV station. “I couldn't stop.” That confirmed witness reports that he was seen standing in the cab in an effort to press the brake pedal harder. “I tried to cushion the blow the best I could with the little time I had.”