BRISTOL — No one was injured when a bus carrying the Mount Abraham Union High School track and field team started on fire while taking the youngsters to a meet in Winooski this afternoon.
The Eagles were in Hinesburg when, coach Chris Nezin told the Burlington Free Press, smoke was observed coming from the engine area. The vehicle coasted to a stop and the occupants evacuated through the back door and scrambled a few hundred yards away.
The turned back and saw the bus on fire. Images from the scene showed the front end of the flat-nosed bus charred black.
Addison Northeast Supervisory Union Superintendent David Adams praised Nezin for his cool head.
Adams, who was still gathering information on the incident late Wednesday afternoon, told the Independent that the bus company, Bet-Cha Transit, did a good job in getting a second bus to the scene quickly to transport the student athletes back to the school, where the athletic director was ensuring that they all found a way home.
They did not get to compete in the track and field meet.
A youngster who called the Independent and said he was one of the students on the bus said he and his peers were most upset about loosing their personal items in the fire.
Adams said he assumed that the school’s insurance policy would cover the losses, but he had to look into it to be certain.