Students Evacuated Moments Before Flames Seen On School Bus

ORLAND PARK, IL — A school bus driver is being praised for quick-thinking after he evacuated several Sandburg High School students from a burning bus en route to school near 131st and Wolf Road Wednesday morning. All students were able to get off safely before flames erupted from the bus.

The bus driver, who works for Positive Connections, the company Consolidated High School District 230 uses for bus transportation, immediately pulled the bus over to evacuate students once he smelled something unusual, District 230 Director of Communications Carla Erdey said.

The students "quickly and safely exited the bus, moved a safe distance away, and then boarded a second bus that was behind the first bus on the road," according to the statement from the district.

It was when the students were on the second bus that flames could be seen from the first bus.

"Due to the quick action of the bus driver to implement what he was trained to do, students remained safe and no injuries were reported," District 230 Superintendent Dr. James M. Gay said. "We are thankful for the professionalism and swift response by the bus driver as well as the driver of the second bus that was close by to pick up the students."

All students on the bus met with school administrators and the school nurse and assured they were unharmed and able to return to class.

The District 230 administration is working closely with Positive Connections management to determine the cause of the incident, Erdey said. The bus that caught fire passed its most recent inspection on Dec. 5, 2019.