Fatal Collision with School Bus in Pender County Sends Students to Hospital

Pender County, North Carolina — January 21, 2026 — According to 12 On Your Side, a deadly crash involving a school bus and a passenger vehicle occurred last week. Officials with Pender County Schools confirmed that the collision happened along N.C. 53 near the Maple Hill community. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that a car crossed over the center line and struck a school bus traveling in the opposite direction.

Troopers believe excessive speed and driver fatigue likely contributed to the crash. The driver of the passenger vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The individual’s identity has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.

The school bus was transporting students to Heide Trask High School at the time of the crash. School district officials stated that 25 individuals were aboard the bus. The bus driver and 23 students were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. One additional student was checked by emergency personnel and did not require transport.

Pender County Schools indicated that no serious injuries have been reported among students or staff.

The roadway was temporarily shut down between Shaw Highway and N.C. 50 as emergency crews worked the scene and conducted an investigation. The highway has since reopened.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

At Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt, our experienced Charlotte personal injury attorneys are committed to helping crash victims and their families navigate the legal process.

Your Injury, Our Fight. How can we help you take a stand? Call 704-377-3737 or contact us online.

Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt so we can update the post with the most accurate information. This post will be removed if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.