Bus Driver Commended, Investigation Underway

March 7, 2017

Authorities continue an investigation into a school bus fire that occurred this morning on Middle Road, Warwick, with the bus, traveling from Watford Bridge to Somersfield Academy, carrying students when it caught fire just after 7am near St. Mary’s Road, forcing an immediate evacuation.

“There were no injuries, as the bus operator safely escorted all passengers off the vehicle,” the Ministry said.


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Acting Minister of Tourism, Transport and Municipalities, Dr Grant Gibbons commented: “I am happy that no one was hurt. The Bermuda Fire Service officers called to the scene are trying to ascertain the cause of the fire.

“We are told that the bus operator should be commended for quick action to evacuate the children to safety, as should members of the public who rendered assistance. I can assure the public that we will get to the bottom of the cause of this unfortunate incident.”

The Department of Public Transportation said, “We would like to add our assurances to that of the Minister that we will determine the cause of this incident as a high priority, in an effort to avoid its reoccurrence.

“In an abundance of caution, we have identified and pulled from the fleet another vehicle which may be of potential concern.”

When apprised of the incident, the Minister Michael Fahy, who is travelling abroad, placed calls to the principals of both Warwick Academy and Somersfield, the two schools with students aboard the bus, and expressed his concern and sent a message of support to parents of the students

The letter is below [PDF here]

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Category: Accidents and fires, All, News

Comments (37)

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  1. TB40 says:

    Bermuda – It’s time for environmentally friendly electric busses….

    • Onion Juice says:

      I blame O.B.A. for cutting budgets for the sake of Americas Cup.

      • James H says:

        Another useless comment. You don’t get any better.

      • bdaboy says:

        “I blame O.B.A. for cutting budgets for the sake of Americas Cup.”

        Of course you do, you’re a bigot with no intelligence.
        I blame the plp, and their voters, who did everything they could to destroy the island. We’re now feeling the repercussions of what the plp did to bermuda, but people like onion juice are too stupid to understand that.

      • Onion Juice is a joke says:

        Thank you Onion Juice–everytime you take to the key board it makes me smile as the stuff you write is just so incredibly unbvelievable, it must be a joke!

        Blessings abound….

        • Onion Juice says:

          Would like to see what de comments would’ve been like if this dumb S!@# would’ve happened under P.L.P. and Dr. Brown, or this F!@# up airport deal, or JetGate or……….
          But I get it, its like de dumb S!@# that Trump says and does and getting away with, if it was Obama they would’ve crucified him !!!!!!!!
          Ill hold my race card for now.

          • bdaboy says:

            “Ill hold my race card for now.”

            clenched between your fat a$$ cheeks, where it belongs.

          • bdaboy says:

            “Would like to see what de comments would’ve been like if this dumb S!@# would’ve happened under P.L.P. and Dr. Brown, or this F!@# up airport deal, or JetGate or……….”

            What would have happened is racists and haters, like yourself, would have blamed the OBA.

      • wahoo says:

        I am not a doctor but I would prescribe some prune juice for you onion juice.

      • Nana says:

        Onion juice you do not have any idea what the Americas Cup is going to do for Bermuda. All you have to say at all times is so negative. Get yourself educated and with the times.

      • The Man says:

        PLP scum supporter! all of the PLP and its hordes of dim witted chicken heads should be made to leave this island

      • Hair says:

        onion juice, be real!!! go get a job and maybe you can work on the bus issues.. geesh

    • bdaboy says:

      “Bermuda – It’s time for environmentally friendly electric busses….”

      Do you think electricity is generated in an environmentally friendly way in bermuda?

      • Datbye says:

        not to mention also making Belco more money

    • Hotgog says:

      Yes we need new Buses, where are the funds coming from, all the GOVT.money is in this sailboat race.

      • bdaboy says:

        “Yes we need new Buses, where are the funds coming from, all the GOVT.money is in the former governments pockets.”

        ftfy

      • Anbu says:

        ask the plp where the damn money went. When u find that then you will know where the money will come from.

      • Onion Juice says:

        News bulletin, P.L.P. haven’t been in Government for 5 years, and O.B.A. have more then doubled our debt.

    • sage says:

      Lithium battery fires are worse.

    • Good Guy says:

      Yah one that they plug into the BELco Electric Grid that burns fossile fuel

  2. Educated says:

    Curious as to whether or not the buses undergo rigorous inspection…and if so how often?

    Could this possibly have been preventable?

    • Say Whaat? says:

      Of course. Proper vehicle maintenance would have caught this issue.

      • bdaboy says:

        “Of course. Proper vehicle maintenance would have caught this issue.”

        I guess those mechanics are incompetant…too bad the BIU/PLP won’t let the government hire any one with qualifications.

      • Onion Juice says:

        But being that Government have made drastic cuts to maintenance hours, seniors, public schools, Public Transportation and our infrastructure (Tynes Bay smoke stack needs a paint job)is being put on de back burner.
        But on de upside we have Americas Cup !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. haha says:

    Maybe if the DPT didn’t down tools several times a year the busses would be better maintained. I’m waiting for the OBA and AC to be the scapegoat of all this.

    • Say Whaat? says:

      How does that stop vehicles from being inspected by mechanics?!? If money wasn’t allocated to service the buses, strikes have no effect on that outcome!

      Ironically they JUST earmarked money to fix the buses and ferries for the AC. Glad this is an election year, or who knows what else has gone unchecked.

  4. Terry says:

    The Russians have taken over America and the fools are waiting in the wings for the spoils of 2018.

    Shalom.

  5. Alvin Williams says:

    All fingers will in the end point to government cost cutting which has impact the running of the public bus service. Will Minster Fahy offer a apology for that also?

    • serengeti says:

      What ‘cost cutting’?
      Last week you were all complaining that costs haven’t been cut enough and debt hasn’t reduced.

    • Say Whaat? says:

      Truth! And no one seems to be looking for that $300k check that vanished.

      • bdaboy says:

        “And no one seems to be looking for that $300k check that vanished.”

        LOL, no, they’re looking for the $800M that ‘vanished’….just so you know, $800M is more than $300K.

  6. Oh,I see now says:

    Are you telling me you all went straight into the political blame game for god sake.Not one of you would even take the time to command the bus driver on his quick action.It appears the concerns were not for the driver and children today but more so for who f;:?ked up.

    Are you all serious!!!!!,!

    • Hill says:

      I commend the bus driver on safely conducting his/herself and others in a very bad scenario.
      I”m glad everyone is safe!
      Theres been too much blood shed this year.

      May the almighty bless this island! And All people here!

  7. Auntie Zuzu Bouche says:

    This bus driver should be our 2017 National Hero!