Sun, cell phone believed factors in fatal crash

CUMMING - Investigators believe a setting, blinding sun and use of a cell phone by one of the drivers may have contributed to a fatal accident Monday involving a car and a Forsyth County school bus.

According to Cpl. David Garrison, Traffic Specialist with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the victim was Isabel Mora Zavala, 45, Pilgrim Road, Cumming.

Cpl. Garrison said that Zavala was west-bound on Spot Road in her 2006 Nissan Sentra. She stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of Spot Road and Dr. Bramblett Road, Cpl. Garrison said, then turned left into the path of the school bus. The bus collided with the Nissan on the driver’s side. Ms. Zavala died instantly.

The bus driver, 47 year-old Holly Ann Charles, of Free Home Highway in Canton, was not injured. The only passenger on the school bus was Ms. Charles’ 16 year-old son. He was not injured.

Cpl. Garrison said it appears that Ms. Zavala was using her cell phone at the time of the crash, which may have distracted her attention. She was also driving into a bright afternoon sun, which may have affected her vision, Garrison added.

The wreck happened at 4:40 p.m.