Leak may have led to bus fire

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

McPherson County sheriff’s office continues to pore over remains of Marion High School’s activity bus, which burst into flame Friday a mile north of a rest area on I-135 north of McPherson.

“It’s been moved to Galva where McPherson County sheriff’s office is looking at it,” superintendent Justin Wasmuth said. “That’s the last we’ve heard. I’m still waiting to hear more.”

Smoke moved from the back of the bus forward, and driver Jerry Kline pulled the bus to the side of the road and evacuated its 34 passengers.

A witness driving behind the bus reported a clue to the fire.

“What we were told is that there was some leaking underneath the bus just before it pulled over,” Wasmuth said. “We don’t know what hose.”

Weight lifters and some other athletes are still in summer practice, but any bus needs can be handled by other buses, he said.

The bus was on its way back from a one-day football camp at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. No one was injured.

Students lost personal items when they had to evacuate, “but that doesn’t matter,” Wasmuth said.

A bus from McPherson schools picked up team members, coaches, and Kline.

Wasmuth and Marion school employees met the McPherson bus at Canton-Galva High School, loaded occupants onto a Marion bus, and returned them to Marion’s football stadium, where relieved parents waited.

It was not an experience Wasmuth wants to go through again.

“I like excitement, but not this type,” he said.

The bus was purchased in 2017, Wasmuth said.