Maine State Police say a young woman was injured after her car swerved into the path of a school bus on Route 161 in New Canada Tuesday afternoon.

Police say 19-year-old Alicia Fiordellisi of Wallagrass had her cat on her lap as she was driving and felt a wet spot on her pants from the cat. As she looked down, her 2011 Chevy Aveo swerved into the northbound lane and struck a MSAD 27 school bus head-on. The bus, operated by Arnold Dubois of Fort Kent, had 58 middle school students on board at the time, returning from a field trip in Caribou.

Police say Fiordellisi sustained injuries to her head and leg and was transported by ambulance to Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent. The cat was killed in the crash.

Dubois and some of the students had minor injuries. Several of the children were taken to the hospital as a precaution after hitting their heads on the back of the seat.

Both the school bus and car were towed due to disabling damage. State Police say the investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

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