TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. -- An Alexander County school bus carrying three dozen students collided with a van before striking and snapping a power pole early Monday.

None of the children were seriously injured in the crash, which happened around 7:45 a.m. on N.C. 127, just south of N.C. 90, at Willie McCloud Road. Investigators say the van pulled into the path of bus no. 150, which was on its way to West Alexander Middle School. They believe the driver may have been blinded by the sun.

The driver of the van was taken to Catawba Valley Medical Center where she is listed in stable condition. There’s no word on the extent of her injuries.

Five of the students were transported to Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory to be treated for minor injuries. All have been released and are recovering at home with their parents.

The rest of the students were loaded onto another bus and taken to the Family Care Center just south of Taylorsville to be checked out because the only hospital in Alexander County closed down earlier this year. The school bus driver was not hurt.

Officials say because of the lack of an emergency room in the county, rescuers could have had a much more serious situation on their hands if the wreck had been worse. It can take 25 to 30 minutes to reach a hospital.

According to the National Safety Council, school buses are nine times safer than other passenger vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 96 percent of the injuries involved in bus accidents are minor.