Cabarrus school bus involved in fatal crash

An investigation is underway in Cabarrus County after a school bus was involved in a fatal collision Tuesday morning.

The crash happened along N.C. 73 and LaForest Drive near Lake Don T. Howell, according to school district officials.

The accident involved the bus and two passenger cars. One of the cars appeared to have run up under the back of the bus. The bus also had heavy damage to the left front fender and wheel.

Investigators say the driver of the vehicle may have suffered from a medical condition and drifted across the center line and hit the bus head-on.

“It was a head-on collision, there was a gentleman going east, crossed left of center, we do not know at this time if it was a medical condition or alcohol or drugs involved, but he was pronounced dead at the scene,” said Trooper Wade Nesbit of the N.C. Highway Patrol.

No students were on board, according to school officials. The bus involved is No. 1154, according to WBTV, the Observer’s news partner.

Nesbit said the accident could have been much worse.

“Had it been children at the point of impact, it was a 90 mile an hour impact speed here, vehicles traveling 45 miles an hour in each direction, 90 mile an hour impact speed,” Nesbit added.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 12:38 PM with the headline "Cabarrus school bus involved in fatal crash."