Incident reports from the City of Goldsboro reveal repeated issues at the railroad bridge that police say was struck by a school bus on Thursday.
The incident sent six students from Dillard Academy Charter School and a bus driver to the hospital.
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It was the sight and scene that Mary Coley says she'll never forget.
"When I stepped out on the porch, I could hear the kids crying," said Coley, who lives just feet from the crash. "I got my shoes on, and I walked down there...I held one little girl...she was really freaking out. I was letting her know, 'you're off the bus. everything's ok now.'"
The railroad bridge is near Carolina and Vine streets. Traffic signs say the bridge has a clearance of seven and a half feet. The average school bus height is 10 to 11 feet.
Goldsboro police said nine kids and two adults were on board the bus when it crashed. An incident report identifies the bus driver as Wennona Davis. The report also said the bus was going 10 miles over the 25-mph speed limit when it crashed.
Administrators at Dillard Academy did not immediately respond to WRAL's questions about why the bus tried to go under the bridge and whether this was Davis' normal route.
City records reveal that at least nine vehicles have struck the bridge since December 2022. Many of the incidents involved moving trucks and other commercial vehicles. In some cases, the top half of some of the vehicles was torn off, according to the reports.
One of the crashes happened just under a month ago, involving a U-Haul truck.
The latest incident is spurring neighbors and city leaders to boost signage.
"Every player that has anything to do with this road or safety, we need to have a conversation," Goldsboro District 1 councilmember Hiawatha Jones said.
A spokesperson for the railroad company Norfolk Southern confirms the freight transporter owns and maintains the bridge.
"Roadway signage, pavement markings, traffic routing, and vehicle access are the responsibility of the applicable roadway authority," the spokesperson said in an email to WRAL. "Norfolk Southern works with state and local agencies as appropriate and will continue to cooperate with officials as they review this matter."
Jones could not confirm whether conversations between the city and Norfolk Southern regarding added signage had taken place after previous crashes. She's pushing for flashing lights on either side of the bridge warning of the low clearance, but did not disclose a possible timeline.
Given the repeated crashes, Coley is urging leaders to make safety upgrades.
"They're going to have to do something about this bridge," Coley said. "I just thank the Lord that the kids are good."
Officials at UNC Health Wayne say all students have been discharged from the hospital.
An update on Davis' condition was not immediately known on Friday.