Driver of Trenton recreation van that flipped injuring 15 issued citations

TRENTON — The driver of a city recreation van that flipped in early August injuring 15 passengers shouldn’t have been behind the wheel.

Tasha Reed, 40, of Trenton was issued four motor vehicle citations on Aug. 30, 25 days after the crash occurred on I-295 north near Burlington returning back to the capital city after spending a day at a South Jersey amusement park, according to New Jersey State Police Sgt. Adam Grossman.

Grossman said she received violations for an expired registration on the vehicle, failure to have a school bus endorsement on her license — required when transporting summer camp students, being unlicensed to drive the van and for passengers not being properly restrained.

Following the crash, state police reported that the vehicle had more occupants than it had seats, with 15 people riding in a van with 11 seats.

In total, 10 kids and five adults were injured in the crash that a source with knowledge previously told The Trentonian occurred when the van blew a tire and overturned into the median.

The day of the crash, three school buses and two vans, including the one that flipped, were transporting 200 city children to Clementon Park as part of the Summer Food Service Program, the source previously stated.

The city faces possible litigation from the crash.

An attorney for Lawrence- law firm Stark & Stark recently protected his right to sue the city by filing court documents. He represents six minors and one adult injured in the accident.

“It’s beyond reckless,” attorney Andrew M. Salmon said Thursday after being informed of the citations. “You wouldn’t want it to be your kid.”

Salmon said intends to find out who made the call to pack the van with children unbelted through the court proceedings.

“They’re fortunate there weren’t any deaths in this case,” he said. “It’s just ludicrous what they did.”

Salmon said he doesn’t know the nature and extent of the injuries sustained by the passengers because they are still being treated.

Trenton is self-insured, meaning it covers all expenses for damage to vehicles and pays for injuries in crashes when the city is liable.