A charter bus caught on fire bringing home 25 members of the Pershing Middle School band and several chaperones from Florida on Sunday.
A tire blew on a Coach USA charter bus on the Interstate 210 Bridge just outside of Lake Charles, LA and sparks caught the tire on fire.
No one was injured and chaperones were able to get all 25 boys off the bus, to safety.
The 63 member band was on their way home after competing and winning first place in a national band competition in Florida. There were two buses, one for girls and one for boys. The boys’ bus caught on fire, destroying everything including their first place trophy. Their grand prize trophy was safe and sound on the girls’ bus.
“It looks like a fluke accident,” HISD Media Relations Dept. Manager Norm Uhl said. “It was pretty scary for the kids.”
Many of the kids were asleep on the bus when the fire started, but they all made it out safely. Many students were concerned about their homework being burned up in the fire, Uhl said.
Pershing Principal Robin Lowe was in Louisiana visiting family when she heard about the fire and drove to Lake Charles to be with everyone. She told the boys not to worry about their homework, Uhl said.
An insurance adjuster arrived on the scene and compiled a list of all the things that were lost in the fire, including band instruments, belongings and souvenirs, Uhl said.
The students were brought to a parish just outside of Lake Charles where they were fed Popeyes chicken, Uhl said.
Everyone seemed to be in good spirits, despite just being in a fire and they were all excited about winning first place, Uhl said.
The students arrived home safely last night after riding back in a replacement bus. Mothers were happy to have their kids’ home safely on Mother’s Day, Uhl said.
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