TARBORO -- The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating a collision that resulted in approximately 26 passengers being injured after a tractor trailer rear ended a bus carrying migrant workers on U.S. 64 near Tarboro. On Monday, Sept. 21 at approximately 6 a.m., a flatbed tractor trailer was traveling east on U.S. 64 near exit 484 in Edgecombe County when it collided into the rear of a passenger bus. The collision caused the bus to overturn before coming to a final rest in the left lane of U.S. 64. After the collision, the tractor trailer veered onto the right shoulder where it traveled down an embankment and came to a final rest along a wood line.

The collision resulted in approximately 26 passengers from the passenger bus being transported to area hospitals with various degrees of injuries. Two of the injuries were reported as serious. Those passengers were flown to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, N.C.

The driver of the tractor trailer, Aaron Nissim Moore, 31, of McLeansville, N.C., has been charged with failing to reduce speed to avoid a collision. Investigators believe that the tractor trailer was traveling between 60-65 miles per hour when it collided into the rear of the bus. Investigators believe that the passenger bus was traveling approximately 45 miles per hour when it was rear ended. In addition, the driver of the passenger bus, Manuel Rodrigues, 29, of Nashville, N.C., will also be charged with failing to have a Class B driver’s license. A Class B license is required when transporting 16 or more passengers.