Catawba woman hit school bus head on, dies in crash

CATAWBA CO., NC– “I panicked, I panicked not only for the students but for the driver too,” said Catawba County school bus driver, Charlene Thomas.

Catawba County school bus driver Charlene Thomas was finishing her route dropping off kids when she heard sirens and arrived at Highway 10 and Bethany Church road to this tragic scene.

“When I got here at the stop light I could see the emotions, and I could see the bus and I seen it like it was hanging on the side of the road,” said Thomas.

The Highway Patrol says 31-year-old Terri Lasher hit this Catawba County school bus head on, and crashed down the embankment
causing her death.

“The bus was going a slow speed he tried to avoid colliding with her he saw her cross the center line and he ran off the road to try and avoid her,” said NC Highway Patrol Trooper, Bobby Lineberger.

The driver, bus monitor and three children on board were checked out and not injured.

“Somebody had said she was texting or whatever and looked up and hit the bus head-on,” said Jane Shuford of Lincolnton.

“We can’t confirm that at this time we will be downloading the phone to see what was actually on the phone see what she was doing at the time of the collision,” said Trooper Lineberger.

Thomas lives nearby and says it’s a dangerous stretch of road with embankments on both sides.

“The children are our responsibility, they come first, their safety, I can just imagine what his first instincts seeing somebody come at him,” said Thomas.

A scary lesson for kids living nearby to learn.

“Accidents happen everyday, so you might want to make sure where you’re going and stop being on your phone and pay attention where you’re driving at,” said neighbor, Zayvon Peterson.