2015-03-23

The ride home from Lancaster to Bethlehem was filled with some tense moments for dozens of people aboard a tour bus.

The TransBridge bus was passing through Berks County around 10:30 p.m. Sunday when passengers reported hearing a bang, followed by another, louder bang, police said.

The driver pulled over on Route 222, near Pleasant Hill Road, in Maidencreek Township to investigate and spotted flames coming from the rear wheel area on the driver's side of the bus, police said.

The 42 passengers made it safely off the bus. One of them who was in a wheelchair was helped by an ambulance crew that just happened to be passing by the scene, police said.

A Carl. R. Bieber Tourways bus also just happened to be passing by the scene and stopped to pick up the stranded passengers, transporting them to the Sheetz convenience store near Fleetwood, where they were picked up by another bus and returned to the Lehigh Valley, police said.

By the time police and firefighters arrived on the scene, the TransBridge bus was already engulfed in flames.

An issue with a wheel bearing is the likely cause of the fire, police said.

A passenger who said she was aboard the bus with her husband told 69 News that their journey took them to the "Tribute to Johnny Cash" show at the American Music Theeatre in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County.

She said all of the first responders on scene were "extremely helpful and caring."

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