Woman dies in school bus wreck in Fayetteville

A woman died Thursday morning after the car she was riding in collided with a Cumberland County school bus at Raeford Road and Purdue Drive, Fayetteville police said.

Police said Joe Ann Pelchat, of Blythewood Lane, turned left into the path of the bus. Her passenger, Annie Wilson Thomas, 78, died in the wreck. Pelchat was listed in stable condition Thursday night at Cape Fear Medical Center.

The wreck happened shortly before 7 a.m., Fayetteville police spokeswoman Teresa Chance said. The was moving through the intersection on a green light and had the right of way, Chance said.

The bus was carrying seven special-needs students ranging from elementary through high school age. None were hurt and all were transported safely to school. The bus driver, 49-year-old Norman Upsher was also unharmed.