Elementary School Bus Engulfed In Flames In Statesville: ISS

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — No injuries were reported after a school bus from Cloverleaf Elementary School was engulfed in flames Monday afternoon.

Bus #168 caught fire on Jane Sowers Road in Statesville shortly before 4 p.m., Iredell-Statesville Schools said in a statement. No students were onboard the bus at the time of the fire.

"The driver and bus monitor noticed smoke coming from the engine and pulled over as the fire ignited," the school district said in a statement. "The driver tried to use the fire extinguisher but was not successful in reducing the flames."

The school bus is a 72 passenger 2011 IC MaxxForce 7, and was last inspected May 9, according to school officials.

"We are very fortunate that there were no children on this school bus," ISS spokesperson Boen Nutting said. "The bus was quickly engulfed in flames. The NC Department of Public Instruction State Inspector is in route to Statesville now to inspect the bus."

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