Truck Crashes Into Van Carrying Children In Durham

Eight children were taken to the hospital Friday morning after the van they were riding in was hit by a truck and crashed into the woods in Durham.

The van was rear-ended while it was in the northbound lane of U.S. 15-501 near N.C. 751 in Durham, police said.

The crash sent the van off the road and into a wooded area, police said.

Eight children had to be removed from the van, which was formerly a Carter Community School. One child was taken to Duke Medical Center by ambulance and the rest were taken to the hospital by police to be checked for injuries.

Carter Community School officials said that even though the van had school lettering on it, it did not belong the school. They said that their students were not on the bus.

The van was purchased from the school by a transportation leasing company and the company never removed their name from the van, school officials said.

The northbound lanes of U.S. 15-501 were closed for a while during the wreck but were reopened around 11 a.m.