A school bus and at least two other vehicles were tangled in a crash on U.S. 401 North near Ligon Mill Road in northeast Raleigh on Tuesday morning, briefly turning a busy commute into a chaotic crash scene. Chopper 11 footage showed first responders carrying what appeared to be young children from the wreck, while two passenger cars sat crumpled after striking the side of the bus. Crews worked the scene and later cleared the roadway so traffic could resume.
According to ABC11, the bus was a short white vehicle marked "Student Transportation of America," and at least two cars collided into its side. The outlet reported it was not yet clear who was riding on the bus, where it was headed, or whether anyone was hurt. ABC11 also noted that the State Highway Patrol is leading the investigation and that the station has reached out to Student Transportation of America and Wake County Public Schools for comment.
Construction At The Intersection
The stretch of U.S. 401 at Ligon Mill has been no stranger to change, with recent work and shifting traffic patterns prompting detours in the area. Reporting on the Ligon Mill Road closure shows NCDOT projects and detours were in place last year, and local officials said those changes have periodically reshaped how traffic moves through the corridor. Those shifts can complicate commutes and, at times, emergency access, although authorities have not suggested that construction played any role in Tuesday’s crash.
Investigation Under Way
ABC11 reports that officials have not released a cause for the collision, and State Highway Patrol troopers are leading the probe. The bus carried markings for Student Transportation of America, which says it operates hundreds of Wake County routes under a multi‑year contract. This story will be updated if the State Highway Patrol, Wake County Public Schools, or Student Transportation of America release additional details.
