NEW DETAILS: Driver cited in school bus crash

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Several students have been taken to the hospital after a school bus crash this afternoon in Bladen County.

It happened on Lisbon Road at Mercer Mill Brown Marsh Road near Clarkton at around 3:30 p.m. At the scene we were told the bus hit a curb and flipped over.

Bladen County Schools spokeswoman Valerie Newton says 39 students were on board; all of those students, including the driver, were taken to the hospital as a precaution. Six were transported by ambulance, 12 by another bus and the remaining by parents.

Sheriff Jim McVicker said the students were from Clarkton School of Discovery and Booker T. Washington School.

“There were some minor injuries. The report I’ve been given by the hospital staff there have been no major injuries. There are just minor things,” said Superintendent Robert Taylor.

Sheana Stitz said her daughter was on the bus when the accident happened.

“When I got the phone call she had said she was pinned under a seat with some kids on top of her,” Stitz said.

Troopers said the driver, Richard Hendren, 31, has been cited for exceeding safe speed to a curve.

“From what I understand the kids were terrified and kept telling him to slow down, but he wouldn’t,” Stitz said. “He kept slamming brakes, and all of the sudden they were off the road.”

The school system cannot confirm if Hendren was speeding the entire time, but they are looking into getting that information by using video camera tape and GPS from inside the bus.