A Martz Trailways bus carrying some Penn State students from Maryland to State College caught fire this afternoon on Interstate 70, resulting in no injuries but leaving passengers to wait on the side of the road until another bus arrived.
The first bus left from Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Md. and caught fire at mile marker 154 of the highway. The back of the bus initially began to fill with smoke and all of the passengers made it safely off before the bus went up in flames.
The Bedford County Fire Department responded to the scene with three fire trucks as of 5:15 p.m. Police and an ambulance also responded, but there were no initial reports of anyone being treated for injuries.
As the bus erupted in flames, passengers stood on the side of the highway and waited for another Martz bus to come and pick them up. They are currently on the bus and headed back to State College as planned.
Many people managed to get their belongings as they left the bus, but some passengers were not able to retrieve their belongings.
Martz Trailways, the Bedford Fire Department or the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office could not be immediately reached for comment.
Collegian staff writer Katie McKenna, who was a passenger on the bus, contributed to this report.
