By KELLY HANNON
An Orange County mother died from injuries sustained in a three-vehicle crash that involved a school bus on State Route 20 yesterday morning.
Julie P. Loving, 44, of Montpelier died on the way to Mary Washington Hospital, according to Virginia State Police spokesman Sgt. F.L. Tyler.
Loving's 1996 two-door Mitsubishi was turning onto Route 20 from Zoar Road when it was struck on the driver's side by a 2005 Honda Accord traveling south on Route 20, Tyler said. After the impact, the vehicles struck an Orange County school bus waiting to turn onto Zoar Road.
Two male students were on the school bus when the crash occurred at 7:30 a.m. One student, age 9, was uninjured and was released to his parents at the crash scene. The second student, age 5, was transported to Culpeper Regional Hospital along with the school bus driver, Patricia Lam, 38.
Both were treated and released, Tyler said.
Loving's two daughters, ages 5 and 15, were riding with her in the Mitsubishi. The younger child was secured in a car seat and the older daughter was wearing a seatbelt, Tyler said. Both daughters were transported to Mary Washington Hospital for treatment.
Loving was not wearing a seatbelt, he said.
No charges will be filed in the crash since the investigation indicates Loving's car failed to yield the right of way, Tyler said. There is a stop sign on the corner of Zoar Road, he said.
The Honda Accord was driven by a 42-year-old woman, carrying a 13-year-old male, 15-year-old male, and a 17-year-old girl.
All occupants of the Accord were wearing seatbelts and were taken to Culpeper Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Tyler said.
Route 20 was closed for two hours following the crash. In addition to state police, the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Virginia Department of Transportation, and fire and rescue officials from Lake of the Woods and Mine Run responded to the scene, Tyler said.
Trooper J.D. Jones investigated the crash.
Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436
Email: khannon@freelancestar.com