School Bus Catches Fire, Driver Saves 20 Students
The Tennessee driver gets all the students off the bus before the fire starts. An electrical problem with a cable near the battery is the cause of the fire, school administrators say.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — A school bus driver acted quickly when her bus caught fire on Thursday morning and saved the 20 students aboard from harm, WSMV reports.
At a bus stop at around 6:30 a.m., the bus’s lights blinked and the engine stopped, according to the news source. A student told WSMV that she saw smoke coming from the bus. She added that the bus driver told the students to start lining up, that they exited from the front of the bus, and the driver made sure all the students walked away from the bus. No students were hurt or aboard the bus when it caught fire.
Clarksville Montgomery County School System administrators told the news source that an electrical problem with a cable near the battery caused the bus to catch fire. Jim Sumrell, the chief operations officer for the district, told WSMV that the district is proud of the driver, and she “did a great job for us.”
School administrators told the news source that the bus, which is 16 years old, passed an inspection in July. The bus will be replaced with a new one that will cost $80,000, according to the news source.
To read the full story, go here.
More Safety

From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible
Smart technology only delivers its full value when it works together. See how Catalyst connects proven industry platforms to move student transportation from reactive to proactive.
Read More →
HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud Warns Motorists of Stopped School Buses
Through a transponder or Samsara connection, the product lets school bus fleets send advance warnings to approaching drivers through in-vehicle alerts.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council
More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.
Read More →
What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation
The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.
Read More →
School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs
Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.
Read More →
Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.
A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.
Read More →
National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe
School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.
Read More →
2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash
A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.
Read More →
Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts
With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.
Read More →
School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →

