In a harrowing turn of events on the H-3 Freeway in Honolulu, the Kahuku High School girls’ flag football team narrowly escaped a disaster when their school bus erupted in flames on Thursday night, Hawaii News Now reports.
Returning home from a game against Moanalua shortly before 8:30 PM, the Red Raiders were forced to evacuate near a tunnel after a coach detected a burning smell, initially suspected to be a tire. Principal Walter Santiago confirmed that thanks to the quick thinking of the coaching staff and the bus driver, all players and adults exited the vehicle safely before it was consumed by the blaze.
No physical injuries were reported, but the loss of property was total. As the fire intensified, the team was forced to watch as their equipment, uniforms, and personal belongings were destroyed inside the vehicle.
Sources indicated that the bus had recently undergone mechanical maintenance, and the driver’s immediate decision to pull over is being credited with preventing a much more tragic outcome.
The Honolulu Fire Department and Police Department responded to the scene to battle the “raging” fire and manage the significant traffic delays near the tunnel.
Despite the 32-6 loss earlier that evening, the Kahuku community is rallying around the team, focusing on the relief that their student-athletes returned home unharmed. Investigations into the exact cause of the fire are currently ongoing as the school district reviews maintenance records for the fleet.
