Maryville, TN - A Blount County school bus caught fire today while returning 68 children to Eagleton Elementary School after a Friends Program field trip, and an unknown good Samaritan and a Blount County deputy are credited with possibly preventing a tragedy.
One female child, who was seated in the back of the bus near the engine compartment, was treated for smoke inhalation and transported by Rural/Metro Ambulance Service to Blount Memorial Hospital.
A counselor who accompanied the children on the trip complained of a headache but refused treatment.
The names of those involved or the destination of the field trip were not immediately available.
The fire was reported at 12:37 p.m. on Old Knoxville Highway near the Pellissippi Parkway entrance.
Fire officials said a construction worker, who was driving by, saw flames coming from the engine compartment at the rear of the bus. The man jumped out of his pickup and put out the fire with his fire extinguisher.
After the fire was put out, the man got back in his truck and drove from the scene.
Fire authorities did not know the identity of the man but said he probably helped to save a lot of lives.
According to fire department authorities, a Blount County deputy, who was in the area, assisted in getting the children off the bus. |
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