Troopers identify driver killed after truck collides with school bus in Catawba County

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — One person was killed in a crash involving a school bus and two other vehicles Thursday afternoon in Catawba County, state troopers said.

The wreck happened just before 3:15 p.m. on Highway 16 South, where the highway meets the business route.

According to the Highway Patrol, a school bus had finished dropping students off minutes before it was hit by a pickup truck that ran a red light. The school bus then lost control and hit an SUV, flipping onto its side.

According to investigators, a Toyota Tundra was heading south on NC 16 and the driver tried to continue straight onto East P Street Extension but ran the red light and collided with the school bus in the intersection. The bus overturned onto a Hyundai Santa Fe, which had stopped on East P Street Extension.

The driver of the Tundra, 41-year-old James Lee Willis, of Newton, died at the scene, troopers said. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

The 50-year-old bus driver and the 71-year-old driver of the Hyundai were hurt but troopers described their injuries as minor.

There were no children on the bus, which was from Bandys High School.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty was at the scene and could see the school bus on top of the SUV.

School officials confirmed the bus had already dropped off students from Bandys High School and that there were no students on the bus at the time of the crash.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved. We appreciate the swift action of our emergency responders,” Catawba County Schools said in a statement.

Highway 16 was closed for more than two hours while authorities worked to clear the scene.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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