March 17, 2003
Mission crew OK, despite tire blowout & bus blaze
___VINTON, La.--Students and sponsors from Hyde Park Baptist Church of Austin safely evacuated a burning bus seconds before flames engulfed the vehicle March 9.
___Despite the scare, Hyde Park members believe God answered their prayers for safety, reported Dan Gardner, the church's business coordinator. "No injuries--that's something we and the parents prayed for before they left."
___More than 100 youth and sponsors were traveling in two buses when the accident occurred. They were bound for New Orleans, on a spring break mission trip to assist Rachel Sims Baptist Mission there.
___The trip came to an abrupt halt seven miles into Louisiana, when a rear tire on the lead bus blew. A fire started almost immediately, but the travelers evacuated just before flames engulfed the bus. Accounts of the incident indicated a blast sent flames and debris more than 20 feet in the air.
___Fire did not destroy luggage, because the storage compartment had been reinforced, Gardner said.
___Although suitcases were saved, many students and sponsors lost personal items, such as purses and CD players, in the rush to leave the burning bus.
___No definite reason why the blowout started a fire has been determined. Authorities believe sparks from the wheel rim may have ignited the gas tank.
___Leroy Rollins, the driver of the Allegro Charter bus that trailed the bus that burned, said he's never seen a blown tire cause an explosion so quickly.
___After hearing about the stranded group, First Baptist Church in Vinton opened its doors until a replacement bus could arrive.
___The students continued to New Orleans, where they cleaned up parks, refurbished run-down neighborhoods and helped children in after-school programs.
___By Staff Writer George Henson, with additional reporting from the Vinton American Press and the Austin American-Statesman
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