Early Thursday morning, a serious traffic incident unfolded on US‑701 South near Keen Road in the Four Oaks area of Johnston County. A passenger bus and a sport‑utility vehicle (SUV) collided, sending the bus into a road sign and leaving both vehicles with extensive front‑end damage.
Details of the crash
According to eyewitnesses and the initial police report, the bus was traveling southbound when the SUV, whose driver could not maintain control, struck the bus from the side. The impact forced the bus into a nearby traffic sign, causing the sign to topple onto the roadway. Both the bus and the SUV sustained major damage, with the SUV also striking the sign structure.
First‑responders from the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, fire department, and local EMS units arrived quickly to secure the scene, tend to any injured parties, and clear the wreckage. No serious injuries were reported at the time of the response, though a few individuals received minor treatment for cuts and bruises.
Traffic impact and detours
The collision forced the closure of US‑701 South between Keen Road and the next major intersection, creating a bottleneck for commuters heading toward the Four Oaks and broader Johnston County area. County traffic engineers deployed portable signs to direct drivers onto alternate routes, primarily directing traffic onto NC‑42 and local county roads to bypass the blockage.
Motorists were advised to allow extra travel time and to follow the posted detour signs. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) dispatched a crew to assess the damage to the road sign and to begin repairs as soon as the scene was cleared.
Community response
Local residents expressed concern over the disruption, noting that US‑701 is a key corridor for daily commuters, school buses, and commercial traffic. Community leaders emphasized the importance of maintaining safe road conditions and urged drivers to exercise caution, especially in areas where heavy vehicles share the road with passenger traffic.
Johnston County officials reiterated their commitment to rapid incident response and infrastructure repair, highlighting recent investments in road safety improvements and emergency response training for first‑responders.
Next steps
The investigation into the cause of the collision remains ongoing. Police are reviewing dash‑cam footage, witness statements, and vehicle condition reports to determine whether speed, mechanical failure, or driver error contributed to the crash.
Authorities will release a full report once the investigation is complete. In the meantime, drivers are encouraged to stay alert, obey posted speed limits, and report any hazardous road conditions to local law enforcement.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
