A Bus Éireann coach today burst into flames on a busy road in Co Clare just moments after dropping off the last of its passengers which included a number of school children.
The 3.45pm service from Mallow Street in Limerick City to Ardnacrusha in Co Clare, which had earlier carried up to 35 passengers, had just dropped off its final customers when the incident occurred.
The single-decker DAF bus was returning to the city at around 4.30pm when the driver noticed smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle.
Two units of the fire brigade from Limerick City attended the incident. The road was closed as crews extinguished the fire which was further fuelled by leaking diesel. The 10 year old bus which was almost completely destroyed.
The road from Barry's Cross to Ardnacrusha remained closed to traffic while Bus Éireann staff waited for a tow-truck to arrive from Cork to remove the vehicle. Clare County Council also attended the scene to carry out an inspection of the roadway which was badly damaged by the intensity of the blaze.
Bus Éireann spokesman Andrew McLindon confirmed: "The driver was making his way back to the city to recommence the service when he noticed a fire at the back of the bus. The driver acted quickly and was not injured. It is too early to say what caused the fire but we are carrying out our own investigation of the incident".