High school football team escapes from devastating bus fire, Kansas school district says

A bus carrying the Marion High School football team caught fire Friday on I-135 in central Kansas, officials said.

The 29 occupants of the bus escaped unharmed after the fire was detected, according to Marion-Florence USD 408 and the McPherson Fire Department, which put out the fire. The occupants were players, coaches and a bus driver.

“The bus, personal belongings and football equipment will be replaced, but thankfully our coaching staff, players and bus driver, Jerry Kline, are safe and that is because of following directions and quick decision making that made this the best outcome possible,” USD 408 said.

The football team was headed back on I-135 south from a football camp at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. The fire started just before 1 p.m.; the bus was north of McPherson.