AHOSKIE – The details of Monday morning’s four-vehicle wreck near here on NC 561 are a bit clearer, but charges remain pending in the 7:30 a.m. crash.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper C. Cayton reported that Melvin Rodgers of Como, driving west in a 1996 Nissan, apparently crossed the center line and struck a 1998 International school bus operated by Sonya Banks Edwards of Aulander. The bus, with 29 students aboard, was traveling east on NC 561.

Upon impact, the outside rear tire of the bus was torn from the rim. The loose tire then struck a 1992 Ford, traveling eastward directly behind the bus, operated by Gloria Fennell of Como.

Trooper Cayton’s report showed that Rodger’s vehicle remained left of center after making impact with the bus. His car then slammed head-on into a 1997 Mercury operated by Monica Owens of Rich Square. Owens, also traveling east, was following Fennell at the time of impact.

Owens’ car then left the roadway and came to rest in a ditch while Rodgers’ vehicle stopped in the center of the highway.

Traffic was detoured for approximately two hours around the crash site in order to allow emergency responders to perform their duties.

None of the students were seriously injured. All were transported to Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie for observation and then released.

Rodgers was transported to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville from where he remained as of late Wednesday afternoon.

Using a Hurst tool, members of the Ahoskie Fire Department extracted Owens from her vehicle. She was transported to RCH with non-life threatening injuries.

Fennell was not seriously injured, but was taken to Roanoke-Chowan Hospital for observation.

Damages were listed at $6,000 for both the Rodgers and Owens vehicles. The bus sustained approximately $7,000 in damage. Fennell’s car suffered $500 in damage.