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No children onboard during fatal collision involving school bus

The school bus overturned onto one of the vehicles, according to NCSHP.

NEWTON, N.C. — One person has died and two others were injured after a three-vehicle collision involving a school bus in Catawba County Thursday. Officials confirm no children were on the bus at the time of the incident. 

It happened around 3:15 p.m. south of Newton at the intersection of NC 16 Business and East P Street Extension. Newton is about an hour northwest of Charlotte.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said of the three vehicles involved, one was a Bandys High School bus with no kids on board. 

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The school bus overturned onto one of the vehicles, according to NCSHP. Officials said the driver of a Toyota, 41-year-old James Lee Willis, died at the scene. He was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The bus driver, 50-year-old Priscilla Prevette and the driver of a Hyundai, 71-year-old Julia Jolly both received non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to the hospital by EMS.   

Parents at the school were notified at 3:30 p.m. that students weren't on board, according to the school. 

At this time, no further information has been released regarding the cause of the crash. 

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