A teenage girl had a lucky escape yesterday when a school bus she had just boarded burst into flames. Charlene Fitzgerald (17) was the only student on the bus at the time.
Dozens more students from Coláiste Chiaráin secondary school in Croom, Co Limerick, were waiting to board the 54-seater bus, before it went on fire at 7.55am near Ballysimon, Co Limerick.
The bus, which is 19 years old, is normally full when it arrives at the school.
School principal Noel Malone last night expressed relief that none of his students had been injured in the fire. "Obviously it was an awful shock to hear about what happened but thankfully nobody was injured," he said.
"I feel particularly sorry for Michael Sheehan, the owner of this bus, as he has been running a very reliable service to our school for the past two years and we have a great relationship with him," he added.
According to Mr Sheehan, the 1987-registered bus recently underwent a test for road worthiness and was fully certified.
It is understood the fire, which started in the engine at the back of the bus, was caused by an electrical fault. However, a full technical examination to determine the cause of the fire is under way.