In a harrowing incident, a school bus carrying 10 students exploded into flames along New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway on Wednesday afternoon, creating a terrifying ordeal. Miraculously, all the children and the driver escaped the burning bus unscathed.
Swift Evacuation Amidst Danger
Firefighters arrived at mile marker 20.8 in Cape May County around 2:30 p.m. to find the bus engulfed in flames. However, the prompt actions of the occupants had already saved the day.
According to officials, all the students had safely evacuated the bus, alerted by the pungent smell of smoke and a deafening bang. One student described the moment of escape, stating that they “smelled smoke and heard a loud bang before we got off the bus.”
Brave Firefighting Response
Fire crews from the Seaville Fire and Rescue Company, along with their counterparts from the Marmora Volunteer Fire Company, fought valiantly against the roaring flames. For nearly two hours, they battled the blaze, eventually extinguishing the intense fire.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with the Cape May County Fire Marshals office and the New Jersey State Police leading the probe. They hope to determine what sparked the devastating incident.
Parents’ Worst Nightmare
The incident sent shivers down the spines of parents, one of whom expressed their immense relief at the absence of injuries. “It’s every parent’s worst nightmare because you don’t know where they’re sitting on the bus, you don’t know where they’re at,” said Kevin Capone, the father of one of the students.
Although the school bus was left charred and damaged beyond repair, the true heroes emerged from this ordeal: the young students who remained composed under pressure and the firefighters who risked their lives to ensure their safety.
