AHOSKIE – Charges were pending late Monday afternoon following a four-vehicle accident that included a school bus on NC 561 just west of Ahoskie.

The wreck occurred sometime around between 7:30 and 8 a.m.

According to Trooper C. Cayton of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, a motorist traveling west on NC 561, apparently veered off the road and then back across the yellow line striking the rear tire of a Hertford County School bus.

Trooper Cayton said the tire from the bus was knocked off the rim and it became a missle that also traveled west on NC 561, striking an oncoming vehicle.

The vehicle that struck the bus tire then struck another oncoming vehicle head on, causing that car to end up in the ditch.

&uot;It’s a little confusing, but right now we are working the report and hope to have it finished by Tuesday morning,&uot; Cayton said. &uot;Until that time, I do not want to release any names.&uot;

There were 29 students on the bus, none of which were believed to be injured. All were transported to Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie for observation and then released.

The motorist in the car that struck the bus was transported to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

The motorist operating the car that was struck by the tire was not seriously injured, but was taken to Roanoke-Chowan Hospital for observation.

The person driving the car struck head-on had to be extracted from the vehicle by the Hurst tool and was transported to Roanoke-Chowan Hospital where she was believed to have suffered a broken leg as well as other non-life threatening injuries.

Trooper Cayton said no charges had been filed as of 5 p.m. Monday, but charges were pending.

(Editor’s note: Look for a more detailed account of the accident in Thursday’s edition of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald.)