ALCOA, Tenn. — A school bus driver here was able to safely evacuate the 29 students aboard his bus as it caught fire on Monday.
Two students aboard the bus at the time told WBIR that they heard a loud “pop” noise as the bus was driving. A fire department spokesperson told the news source that the bus driver noticed the fire at an intersection. He then pulled over, got all the students off the bus, and soon after, the bus burst into flames, according to WBIR. Alcoa City Schools Director Brian Bell told the news source that the bus driver handled the situation well.
The bus, which is owned by Rocky Top Tours, was last checked by the Tennessee Highway Patrol in July 2016 and passed in all categories, according to WBIR. WATE reports that the Alcoa Fire Department said the fire started in the engine, but Bell told the news source that focus may have shifted to the back brakes.
Watch video from WATE (courtesy John Daining) of the fire below.
