A Howard County school bus carrying nearly 50 Elkridge Elementary pupils was hit by a car late yesterday on U.S. 1 in Elkridge, police said.

No one was seriously injured in the accident, but five pupils, ages 7 through 10, were taken to Howard County General Hospital as a precaution. They were treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The accident happened about 4 p.m. when the bus driver attempted to turn left onto Loudon Avenue from the southbound lanes of U.S. 1. The bus did not complete its turn before it was hit on the right side of its rear bumper by a 1998 Mazda 626 that was traveling north.

Police did not immediately identify the drivers.