SUV hits school bus; one student injured
By John Joyce
Published in News on November 27, 2012 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
A Toyota 4-Runner is wedged against a school bus that was on its way to Brogden Primary School this morning when it was struck from behind while picking up students along Old Mount Olive Highway. A second vehicle, a Saturn passenger car, then hit the SUV. The drivers of the SUV and the car, unidentified as of press time, are likely to be cited for failure to reduce speed.
An accident on Old Mount Olive Highway, the second in two days involving students from Brogden Primary, sent at least one student to Wayne Memorial Hospital with what authorities said looked to be an ankle injury.
Wayne County Public Schools bus No. 531 was rear-ended by a Toyota 4-Runner just after 8 a.m. today.
A second vehicle then ran into the back of the 4-Runner.
"The bus was stopped picking up a student and the driver of the 4-Runner failed to reduce speed," said Trooper L.J. Bunn of the N.C. State Highway Patrol.
As a result, Bunn said, the driver of the third vehicle, a Saturn passenger car, was unable to stop in time.
"The driver of the car said his brakes were bad," Bunn said.
The 4-Runner was still pressed against the rear of the bus and its front end was smashed.
The Saturn, too, was crumpled and the air bag had deployed.
Wayne County EMS checked out the drivers of both vehicles and three students from the school bus at the scene of the wreck.
Those students, along with the remaining children who were unharmed, were picked up by a second bus to be taken on to the school.
Once there, the children were to be evaluated by the school nurse.
The driver of the bus was uninjured in the accident.
Both drivers of the second and third vehicle involved, according to the Highway Patrol, will likely be cited for failure to reduce speed.