A red Dodge Neon struck the back of a parked school bus in front of Rockwell Elementary School on Saturday. The car caught fire and burned the front of the car and back portion of the bus. Photo By Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Staff report

ROCKWELL — A ringing cell phone apparently caused a teenager to crash into a parked school bus, burning both car and bus.

The mishap occurred around noon Saturday on Link Street, adjacent to Rockwell Elementary School.

Sgt. Gary Phillips, of the Rockwell Police Department, said 16-year-old Kyle Massey of 494 Vera Drive, turned off West Main Street onto Link Street and lost control.

Massey told police that as he made the turn, his cell phone rang and he reached for it.

The car, a 1995 Dodge Neon, went under a Rowan-Salisbury School System bus parked on the street.

The impact drove the front of the car under the rear of the bus, with fire erupting from the engine compartment.

Massey escaped without injury.

The fire consumed the engine compartment of the car and the rear end of the bus.

The fire did not reach the fuel tank on the bus, which is located near the front.

Phillips estimated damage to the bus, at $4,000 to $5,000. The car was judged a total loss.

Phillips charged Massey with failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision.

Rockwell Rural and Rockwell city firefighters responded to the scene.

Rowan-Salisbury staff responded to the scene and moved the damaged bus, No. 158, and replaced it with a backup.