SporTran driver praised for heroic, life-saving actions before bus explosion

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A city bus exploded on Wednesday afternoon, and the driver is hailed a hero for saving its passengers.

Fire crews rushed to the scene where a Sportran bus caught fire and then exploded on North Hearne Avenue.

“There is damage to the street as well as businesses on the street. Those being a dialysis center and apartment complex across the street,” said Daniel McDonnell, Shreveport Fire Department assistant to the chief.

Jolting nearby employees.

“It was blowing a 20-foot flame in the air. The flame went down a little bit, but then it exploded. You could feel it. You could feel the blast pressure over here, and we’re about 100 yards away. It was a ten-pound piece of aluminum landed right here in front of our place. So we were all outside here watching it. We could see everyone was off the bus, so there was nobody who needed help. So we watched it burn,” said Jerry O’Gle of Patton Industries.

The Chief Executive Officer of Sportran, Dinero Washington, said the quick thinking of their bus driver saved lives.

“I can tell you that her name is Valerie Ross. Mrs. Ross did an incredible job with those passengers and making sure they were getting to safety behind a building, just in case something happened, which actually did happen this time. That’s the training they received. She followed her training and did an incredible job for the citizens of Shreveport-Bossier,” Washington said.

Investigators believe a ruptured, compressed natural gas cylinder caused the explosion.
Washington said Sportran has removed all their buses from service for evaluation that use compressed natural gas.

“We feel as if the fire suppression system had been working adequately we probably wouldn’t have seen what we saw yesterday, that is the reason that all the busses, CNG busses were taken out of service, to evaluate the fire suppression system,” Washington said.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux called the bus driver a hero. “In a moment of danger, she reacted without hesitation, ensuring all passengers were safely evacuated before the fire escalated. She is a true public servant and a heroine,” Arceneaux said.

Mayor Arceneaux also expressed his appreciation for Washington, saying, “his swift decision to ground the CNG fleet was made with the safety of our riders and drivers in mind, and we support him fully as the investigation continues.”