Deputy cited after crash with school bus

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Brunswick County Sheriff’s deputy has been cited after investigators say he rear-ended a school bus early this morning.

Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Emily Flax said Dep. Ryan Sheppard was cited for failure to reduce speed after the crash this morning on Mt. Misery Road at Reed Road in Leland.

A Highway Patrol trooper investigating the incident said the deputy was taken to the hospital. Flax said Sheppard suffered minor injuries.

Dispatchers say the call came in just after 6 a.m. reporting the crash.

Brunswick County Schools spokeswoman Jessica Swencki said a student heading to Brunswick County Academy and another going to Brunswick County Early College High School were on the bus at the time, but no children were hurt in the crash.

The collision crushed the passenger side of the deputy’s cruiser and had to be towed away. The district’s transportation director says the bus suffered about $3,000-$4,000 damage to the rear left end, but was driven from the scene.