Penn State Students Flee Burning Bus; University Offering Aid to Affected Students

No one was injured when a Martz Travels charter bus carrying Penn State students back to campus caught fire, sparking a tense evacuation. It happened at 4:30 p.m. Sunday along Interstate 70 near Breezewood, Pa. Everyone got out safely, Penn State officials confirmed. 

Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said three buses were bringing students back to University Park after Spring Break. The trip was sponsored by the Washington, DC Alumni Association. 

“In one bus, students smelled smoke and the bus driver pulled over and evacuated [it]. He was also able to remove the luggage from the storage area below, but some students left belongings on the bus, which became engulfed in flames. No one was injured,” Powers wrote in an email.

According to Penn State, Residence Life and Student Affairs are working to help students affected by the bus fire. 

Students who live in campus residence halls and whose belongings were lost in the fire should visit their residence hall commons desks. Residence Life is coordinating the issuance of temporary ID cards and room keys to students as they are returning to campus. Temporary lodging is available to affected students who live off campus, again by visiting a residence hall commons desk, Penn State officials said. 

Students who have other needs related to losses from the bus fire can contact student affairs at 814-863-4926 starting at 8 a.m. Monday.

Martz Travels officials could not be reached for comment. 

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