Name released of victim in deadly crash involving Pender County School Bus

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The victim of a fatal wreck involving a Pender County school bus on Tuesday was an active duty Marine stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC.

Xaylyn Kayne Karney, 24, from Florida, was the driver of the vehicle that went left of the center and hit the school bus head on while on NC Highway 53 according to the state trooper.

Karney died as a result of the crash.

There were 24 students and one driver on the bus according to Pender County Schools.

According to a spokesman from Pender County Schools, one student was treated at the scene. The bus driver and 23 other students were transported to Novant Health Pender Medical Center in Burgaw for evaluation and released. No injuries were reported, the spokesman said.

Pender County Schools said, one student was released at the scene, 23 and the driver were transported to Pender Memorial Hospital for evaluation out of caution. No major injuries were reported to the school district.

A state trooper says Karney was driving from Florida and returning back to the military base.

The highway patrol suspects fatigue and speed were contributing factors in the crash. The bus driver told the highway patrol they noticed Karney’s vehicle slightly crossing the center line before impact. Additionally, a state trooper said there were no signs of drug or alcohol impairment, but the completed toxicology report will not be available for a while.