HAMLET — No students were injured in an mid-morning school bus wreck on U.S. 177 north of Hamlet Monday, according to a press release from Richmond County Schools.
The crash reportedly occurred around 9:15 Monday morning and involved one other vehicle. Richmond County Schools’ Public Information Officer Ashley Michelle Thublin said that vehicle struck bus 166, and that the driver was uninjured.
The press release stated that 14 students bound for the Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy and Richmond Senior High School were on board at the time of the crash, and that Superintendent Dr. Cindy Goodman was satisfied with their behavior.
“Based on the reports I’ve received, our students were well behaved and handled the situation maturely,” Goodman said. “I’m so glad everyone’s safe, including the driver of the car involved.”
The students were transferred to bus 162 and taken to their schools.
“Once they arrived, students were given the opportunity to call their parents and eat breakfast,” according to the press release.
Thublin said the bus driver, in accordance with standard district policies, will be drug tested. The driver has not been suspended pending the investigation of the crash.
The N.C. Highway Patrol responded to the scene, and according to Thublin, said the crash was not weather related. Schools were operating on a two-hour delay due to the potential for ice on the roads.
A Winter Weather Advisory from the National Weather Service in Raleigh, issued at 4:33 a.m., was in effect at the time of the collision.
Late Monday afternoon, a post on the school district’s Facebook page read, “Richmond County Schools will be returning back to its regular schedule for all staff and students tomorrow, Tuesday, January 10.”
The Highway Patrol did not return calls for further details in time for this story.
Reach reporter Melonie McLaurin at 910-817-2673 and follow her on Twitter @meloniemclaurin.