Daniel Fernandes Death: Queens Teen Sticks Head Out Of Party Bus, Hits NJ Overpass

Fort Lee, New Jersey — A Sweet 16 celebration turned tragic Friday night after a teenager was killed during a freak accident on a double-decker party bus.

Authorities say Daniel Fernandez, 16, was traveling to a birthday party in New Jersey on the crowded party bus, when he popped his head out of the emergency roof hatch, and his head slammed into the underside of an overpass on I-95 near the George Washington Bridge.

The accident occurred at the Fletcher Avenue overpass of Interstate 95 at about 6:30 pm, according to the NY Daily.

The bus was carrying more than 60 teenagers to the party, many of who were forced to witness the horrific event.

“Kids said they saw a lot of blood and they saw his head get struck. They were so traumatized,” said Leon Tyrone McKivor, 52, a New York City EMT who stopped to help at the scene. “I could see the look on their faces. A handful were covered with blood.”

Fernandez, an incoming junior at the Queens Catholic school, was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, law enforcement sources said.

Though no other teens on the bus were injured, sources told ABC 7 that many of them suffered severe emotional trauma from witnessing their friend’s death.

Designer Transportation, which operates the bus involved in the accident, expressed its “deepest heartfelt sympathy” for Fernandes’ family. It says it plans to conduct an internal investigation.

ABC News has more on the tragic death of Daniel Fernandes in the video below: