Crash involving Robeson County school bus leaves one dead

A Lumberton man has died after a Friday morning crash involving a school bus assigned to the Public Schools of Robeson County, police said.

Eric Fields died in the crash along Hilly Branch Road at U.S. 74, according to Lumberton police. He was 44.

Lumberton police said the bus had two public school employees on board. Neither were injured. The school bus did not have any students on board at the time of the crash at about 9:22 a.m. Friday.

Jacobi Jacobs, 27, is charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and failing to yield the right of way. He received an unsecured bond.

Lumberton police said school bus No. 82 was traveling north on Hilly Branch Road and pulled out in front of a van driven by Fields.

Jessica Sealey, a spokesperson for the school district, said the school bus was driven by a PRSC Transportation worker when the crash happened. After the crash, the car caught fire and the person died, according to Sealey.

Anyone with information should call Lumberton police at 910-671-3845.

WMBF contributed to this story.