TOMS RIVER – A school bus suddenly burst into flames while traveling on Old Freehold Road early Wednesday morning.
Toms River police officer Michael Cassady responded to the area of Old Freehold Road and Dugan Lane on Wednesday morning for a reported vehicle fire.
Authorities said Toms River School Bus 279 was traveling on Old Freehold Road when the driver smelled something burning.
The driver then pulled over and exited the bus along with an aid who was also on board, police said. The bus then became fully engulfed with flames, police said. The fire was extinguished by Pleasant Plains Volunteer Fire Company. There were no students on board at the time of the incident.
General Fire installs fire suppression systems and gas detection systems on all makes and models of vehicles including school buses. Thankfully, no one was injured in this fire but a fire suppression system should be mandatory on all school buses in every state. Please contact your school district and state representatives to ensure your children are safe.