An employee at First Student, a transportation company in Rochester, MN, was injured and taken to the hospital when a propane-fueled bus exploded in a garage on February 17. Five people were in the garage, located at 2021 32nd Ave. N.W., at the time of the blast. No other injuries were reported.
Witnesses told the Rochester Post Bulletin that the explosion blew the doors off the garage and shook nearby buildings. Fire officials have not yet determined what caused the bus to explode.
No information was provided about the nature of the employee’s injuries. Explosions can cause a variety of injuries including burns, smoke inhalation, blunt force trauma, traumatic brain injury, blast lung and crush injuries.
This is not the first time a propane-powered bus has exploded. At least two other incidents have occurred since 2011.
At a propane fueling station in East Ridge, TN, just south of Chattanooga, a brand new Bluebird bus exploded. No one was injured, but the 71-passenger bus was completely destroyed. The video from a local news station shows the fire and resulting damage.
In August 2011, on the first day of school, a propane-fueled bus exploded with 16 middle schoolers on board. The driver told KCCI, a local news station, that before the explosion he could tell something was wrong. He pulled over, turned off the ignition and an explosion under the hood sent flames roaring at the windshield. Two of the boys opened the rear door of the bus and helped others out of the bus. The driver and all 16 students were unharmed. The video from a local news station shows the aftermath of the initial blast.
Sources:
http://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/one-hurt-in-explosion-at-school-bus-garage/article_da0cede7-ca22-57fe-8583-b9768185e33e.html