Travellers escape bus explosion
Vehicle bursts into flames
Five passengers has a lucky escape after a bus burst into flames on a rural Perthshire route this week.
An eyewitness told the PA how the no.17 Dunning to Perth Stagecoach service filled with fumes as it travelled on the B935 near Forteviot, forcing those on board outside.
The incident happened around 8am on Tuesday and the passengers had to hitch a lift into Perth to get to their destinations on time.
Gail Marshall (50), who was travelling on to Scone, told the PA: “We smelt petrol fumes and there was smoke filling the bus. The driver was accompanied by a mentor, but they didn’t say anything to us.
“We had to get out on the roadside and then the bus went ‘boom!’ “The explosion was very frightening.” Gail was on her way to visit her sick mother and said she was grateful to the good Samaritan who stopped to offer her and the other passengers a lift into Perth.
“I had to catch another bus into Scone, but I was still able to get to my mum for 9am,” Gail added.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said two crews from Perth arrived ten minutes later and the fire was put out using a water jet and a reel hose.
A SFRS spokesperson confirmed it was all over by 8.45am. The smoke-filled bus on the B935 near Forteviot
We had to get out on the roadside and then the bus went ‘boom’. It was very frightening