Lucas Peterson, who writes the Frugal Traveler column for the New York Times, took a discount Megabus today on a planned trip from Chicago to Milwaukee.
It did not go well. As in, the bus literally exploded after a fire from a flat tire got out of control and engulfed the entire bus:
Summary: we left Chicago, immediately there seemed to be something wrong bc we stopped on shoulder of highway couple times, driver got out.
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Then driver said we have to turn around and go back to Chicago to switch buses. About five min later tire blows and we pull over on hwy 41
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Driver says it's just a flat tire, that there's no need to panic, and goes outside. Minutes later smoke starts pouring out of the bus.
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Someone on the top deck eventually says: "we should get off of this bus." So we all get out. People trying to get their luggage. Small fire.
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Small fire over wheel becomes big; people abandon luggage and get away. Entire thing goes up in flames, series of loud booms.
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Photos from the scene:
Update: the bus is on fire. pic.twitter.com/alvXtoHbwL
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Update: the bus exploded. pic.twitter.com/Sd0rBYN714
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Emergency services here now pic.twitter.com/40BDWMM1q5
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
What's left of the bus. pic.twitter.com/9nCdhHINLf
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
According to Peterson, no one was hurt in the blaze, but the luggage compartment was destroyed:
Good news: according to police no one was hurt. I asked about our (passengers) status since its cold waiting outside here (30s/ windy)
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
we're trying to see if everyone got off the bus ok… Most luggage got incinerated
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Alexei O'Brien, student at U of St Thomas, says he lost his clothes, schoolwork, hundreds of $ in textbooks pic.twitter.com/Uzhpji2tUa
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Darnell McKinney says he was moving STL to MIL and lost most of his possessions, SS & credit cards, birth certif. pic.twitter.com/voWcn1UYVQ
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
And passengers are worried that Megabus will only cover $250 worth of damages:
passengers are looking up Megabus TOC which limits liability to $250; some very unhappy people. pic.twitter.com/8p5QDVIgS5
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
A replacement bus arrived and passengers eventually made it to Milwaukee:
about 5 hours later, arrived in Milwaukee. Wishing everyone who stayed on bus safe journey to Twin Cities. pic.twitter.com/ldboKmY642
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
We can’t wait to read his column on the trip for the Times and hopefully he shames the bus company into covering the full cost of what was lost.
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