Students were safely evacuated after a vehicle struck the back of a school bus Friday morning. The crash occurred shortly after 8 a.m. on Union Church Road near New Century Middle School, outside Carthage, and delayed morning traffic.
According to radio traffic, the vehicle reportedly rear-ended the school bus and then caught fire following the crash.
All 11 Moore Innovative High School students were safely evacuated from bus No. 56. Charlie A. Batchelor, Chief Communications Officer with Moore County Schools, told Sandhills Sentinel that no students or the bus driver were injured and that no one was transported for medical treatment.
“Following the collision, the bus driver observed smoke and immediately evacuated all students from the bus,” said Batchelor. “The driver then contacted 911 and the MCS Transportation Department.”
He added that a New Century Middle School bus transported the students from the scene to school.
Students seen evacuating the bus. Photo by Lindsay Hagen.
This was the second school bus wreck in three days, after a bus was also struck in the Seven Lakes community in West End on Wednesday afternoon.
Union Church Road was closed while first responders worked at the scene. Drivers were urged to use alternate routes while the road remained closed.
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Photos courtesy of Lindsey Hagan.
