By: Richard L. Smith
IMAGE: Fairfield Police
Fairfield Police are investigating a serious crash that left two people injured Saturday evening on Route 46 East.
According to a statement released by Fairfield Police officials, the incident occurred around 7:32 p.m. when multiple 911 calls reported a collision between a Lakeland Commuter bus and a 2015 Kia Soul near the Hampton Inn and Suites at 118 Route 46 East.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the bus on the center median and the Kia partially on the median and partially blocking the left lane of Route 46 East.
The two occupants of the Kia had exited the vehicle and were lying on the median, where officers provided immediate medical assistance until the West Essex First Aid Squad arrived.
Both individuals were transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
None of the 26 passengers on the commuter bus reported injuries.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations suggest that the 22-year-old driver of the Kia, who hails from Ohio, had allegedly attempted to cross the westbound lanes of Route 46 after pulling out of the parking lot of Plato’s Closet at 137 Route 46 West.
When the bus struck the Kia broadside, the driver reportedly tried to use an emergency U-turn to enter Route 46 East illegally. 
Police said the bus driver had no time to avoid the collision.
The crash remains under investigation by the Fairfield Police Department.