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Johnston County

Johnston County: SUV driver seriously hurt in head-on crash with work bus on U.S. 701

The crash was reported around 6:35 a.m. Monday near Keen Road in the Four Oaks area. Troopers said a northbound SUV tried to pass another vehicle and hit the bus. Accounts differ on whether anyone on the bus was hurt.

DevelopingOfficials are still releasing information. We update this story as facts are confirmed.

By Triangle Local Newsroom · Published

The Johnston County courthouse in Smithfield

File photo: Ammodramus (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • An SUV and a bus carrying farm workers collided head-on Monday morning on U.S. 701 near Keen Road in the Four Oaks area.Confirmed by N.C. State Highway Patrol, via WRAL; JoCo Report
  • The crash was reported around 6:35 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. The highway was shut down for a time while firefighters, EMS crews and troopers worked the scene.Confirmed by JoCo Report
  • Troopers told WRAL that a northbound SUV tried to pass a vehicle in front of it and hit the bus head-on. They said the bus is registered to Orea and Son's Harvesting and Hauling in Mount Olive.Confirmed by N.C. State Highway Patrol, via WRAL
  • The SUV driver was seriously hurt and was taken to a hospital. WRAL, citing troopers, said the driver went to WakeMed, was wearing a seat belt, and was not speeding or impaired.Confirmed by N.C. State Highway Patrol, via WRAL; JoCo Report (serious injuries and hospital transport)
  • JoCo Report said the silver SUV's driver was trapped and that Four Oaks firefighters got the driver out.Confirmed by JoCo Report
  • WRAL, citing troopers, said the bus was carrying 29 people, including the driver, and that no one on the bus was injured. JoCo Report, from the scene, said 27 people were aboard and that several of them were taken to hospitals. We have not resolved that difference.Confirmed by N.C. State Highway Patrol, via WRAL; JoCo Report

Still unknown

  • Whether anyone on the bus was hurt or taken to a hospital (the Highway Patrol account via WRAL and the JoCo Report scene account disagree)
  • The name of the SUV driver
  • Whether anyone will be charged
  • Further details from the Highway Patrol's investigation

What this means for you

Roads
U.S. 701 near Keen Road in the Four Oaks area was shut down for a time Monday morning while crews worked the scene.

What happened

The N.C. State Highway Patrol said a motorist in an SUV was seriously hurt Monday morning in a head-on crash with a work bus on U.S. 701 near Four Oaks.

The wreck was reported around 6:35 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, near Keen Road, according to JoCo Report. The highway closed for a time while firefighters, EMS crews and troopers worked the scene.

A northbound SUV tried to pass a vehicle in front of it and struck the bus, troopers told WRAL. It is registered to Orea and Son's Harvesting and Hauling in Mount Olive, that account said.

WRAL, citing troopers, put 29 people on board, including the driver, and said none of those passengers were injured. JoCo Report, from the scene, counted 27 people aboard and said several riders were taken to hospitals. Those two figures have not been reconciled.

WRAL, still citing troopers, said the motorist went to WakeMed with serious injuries, was wearing a seat belt, and was not speeding or impaired. JoCo Report said the silver SUV's occupant was trapped and that Four Oaks firefighters got that person out.

The Highway Patrol is investigating. No written release from troopers was available when this story was checked.

What we don't know yet

Troopers have not named the motorist. They have not said whether anyone will be charged. The two public accounts still disagree on how many people were aboard and whether any riders were hurt.

What happens next

We will update this story if the Highway Patrol posts its own account, names the motorist, or settles the passenger-injury question.

This site is not an emergency service. If someone is in danger, call 911.

Why it matters

U.S. 701 is a main two-lane highway through southern Johnston County. A morning head-on crash near Four Oaks sent at least one person to the hospital with serious injuries, and troopers have not posted their own written account.

Updates

  1. Oct 19, 2026, 6:35 AM

    An SUV and a work bus collide head-on on U.S. 701 near Keen Road in the Four Oaks area. The SUV driver is seriously hurt. The Highway Patrol is investigating.

Sources

  1. N.C. State Highway Patrol, via WRAL: northbound SUV tried to pass a vehicle and hit a work bus head-on on U.S. 701 South near Keen Road; bus registered to Orea and Son's Harvesting and Hauling in Mount Olive; 29 people on the bus including the driver, none injured; SUV driver seriously hurt and taken to WakeMed; troopers said the driver was wearing a seat belt and was not speeding or impaired

    Official sourcePublished by N.C. State Highway Patrol, via WRAL · Checked Oct 19, 2026, 10:15 AM

  2. Bus carrying farm workers, SUV collide head-on (JoCo Report: crash reported around 6:35 a.m. Monday near Keen Road; silver SUV driver trapped and extricated by Four Oaks Fire Department; 27 people aboard the bus; several bus occupants transported; highway temporarily shut down; Highway Patrol investigating)

    Published by JoCo Report · Checked Oct 19, 2026, 10:15 AM

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