Caught on camera: Smoke engulfs Wayne County school bus, cause likely mechanical
OUT TO THE STATE FOR THIS
WEEKEND, REAL. ALL RIGHT, MIKE,
THANK YOU.
>> SCARY MOMENTS CAUGHT ON
CAMERA. NEW TONIGHT. DISTRICT
OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRE THAT
CAUSED THIS CLOUD OF SMOKE
AROUND WAYNE COUNTY SCHOOL BUS
MAY HAVE STARTED IN AN
ELECTRICAL PANEL WRAL'S FOR
INSIDER SPOKE WITH A WITNESS
WHO CREDITS THE SCHOOL BUS
DRIVER FOR GETTING STUDENTS
TO SAFETY.
>> A TYPICAL RIDE HOME FROM
SCHOOL TOOK A TURN ON TRAIL
DRIVE IN GOLDSBORO, SMOKE
BILLOW FROM THIS BUS CARRYING
GRANT AN ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
THURSDAY. WHEN I SAY THIS IS
JUST SIMPLY THINKING OF WHAT
POSSIBLY COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
TRACY COOPER CAPTURED THE
RESPONSE THAT TIME I WAS ABLE
TO RUN AND GRAB A
>> FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS PRETTY
MUCH ENGULFED. IT HAPPENED HERE
AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE DRAKE
ESTATES SUBDIVISION, CHARRED
BRUSH, BURNED BUS PIECES IN
SHATTERED GLASS REMAIN.
WITNESSES CREDIT THE QUICK
ACTIONS OF THE BUS DRIVER FOR
PREVENTING THE SITUATION FROM
GETTING MUCH WORSE. SHE WAS ALL
BUSINESS. OUR GIVE HER 100%
LIKE SHE HAD NERVES OF STEEL.
COOPER SAYS THE DRIVER
IDENTIFIED BY SCHOOL OFFICIALS
AS TAMMY LEWIS GOT THE 21 KIDS
OFF THE BUS AND AWAY FROM THE
SMOKE. THE CHILDREN WERE
VISIBLY UPSET ON. THEY WERE
CRYING AND SHAKEN BY EMAILED
WHEN COUNTY SCHOOL OFFICIALS
ABOUT THE BUSES INSPECTIONS AND
HOW OFTEN STUDENTS TAKE PART
IN THE EVACUATION DRILLS.
A DISTRICT REP REPLIED SAYING
TRANSPORTATION STAFF FORWARD
CONTACT WITH STATE OFFICIALS
ABOUT NEXT STEPS FOR OFFICIAL
REVIEW OF THE BUS.
>> AND STUDENTS PRACTICE
EVACUATIONS. TRACY YEAR, IT WAS
A LITTLE UNNERVING TO WITNESS
HOW FAST.
>> THAT ANGLE FIREFIGHTERS HAD
THE SMOKE UNDER CONTROL IN A
MATTER OF MINUTES. A REMINDER,
COOPER SAYS OF THE CRUCIAL ROLE
FOR U.S. DRIVERS PLAY IN
KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE. THE FACT
THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO REACT AS
QUICKLY AS SHE DID IT. OH,
ABSOLUTELY. SHE DESERVES ALL
THE COMBINATIONS. FLYNN,
SNYDER, WRAL, NEWS GOLDSBORO.
WOW. JUST INCREDIBLE. WHAT YOU
DID. ALL STUDENTS WERE OKAY AND
THEY WERE PLACED ON A NEW BUS.