NCDOT reviewing U.S. 17/U.S. 74 ramp after Leland school bus crash

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Department of Transportation says it is reviewing the U.S. 17 and U.S. 74 interchange in Brunswick County following a school bus crash that injured four people last week.

NCDOT officials said the agency’s Traffic Safety Unit will conduct a detailed review of the area, including crash data, pavement markings, signage and current road conditions.

“Once complete, we will take any appropriate actions required or warranted to make this ramp as safe as possible for the traveling public,” NCDOT Public Information Officer Veronica Scott said in a statement.

The review comes after a school bus carrying members of the Douglas Byrd High School football team crashed Wednesday on a U.S. 74 exit ramp in Leland.

According to the Leland Police Department, the bus driver, 57-year-old Annette Blount of Linden, North Carolina, was charged following an investigation. Blount faces charges of reckless driving with intentional disregard and exceeding a safe speed.

Investigators said the bus was traveling from northbound U.S. 17 onto the westbound U.S. 74 exit ramp when it entered a curve at a speed greater than the recommended limit. The bus left the roadway, overturned and came to rest partially in the roadway.

The crash happened shortly after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The bus was carrying members of the Douglas Byrd High School football team from Fayetteville after the team attended a 7-on-7 football event at South Brunswick High School.

There were 33 people on board, including 26 students and seven adults. Four people — two students and two adults — were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said all individuals transported for treatment have since been released.

Blount is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 11.

The Leland Police Department investigation remains ongoing, and NCDOT’s safety review of the interchange is underway.