6 White Knoll Students on School Bus Burned by Steam From Cooling System

LEXINGTON, SC (WOLO)- Authorities say six soccer players riding inside a school bus were scalded when steam and hot water from the cooling system in the bus sprayed inside the vehicle.

Lexington School District 1 spokeswoman Mary Beth Hill said in a news release that the bus from White Knoll High School had the mechanical problem on Interstate 20 in Kershaw County as it headed to Lugoff High School for a game Tuesday afternoon.

White Knoll student athlete, Amar Omerbasic says the bus ride started out normal and then he heard something that sounded like an explosion. In a matter of seconds the bus was filled with smoke.

“I felt hot smoke hit me and I heard people screaming, and then I saw people start rushing,” Omerbasic said.

The bus that was carrying 42 whiteknoll soccer players started gushing out hot water from its cooling system.

“Right when I turned around I looked over to see, and there was a little compartment basically and you can see it splattering liquid,” Omerbasic said.

Many of the injured players suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns. Omerbasic  says some students jumped out of windows to save their life.

“I was scared but I had to stay calm and try to help everyone else out that was hurt,”Omerbasic said. “I was just trying to give them water and stuff.”

Today the teammates who were able to return to school wore their jerseys to show solidarity. They sent pictures to their teammate who is still recovering.

“We sent him some pictures to show him some support and everyone has been kind of like a family,” Omerbasic said.

Surviving this incident has given the students a new outlook on life.

“I just care about life so much more now, ” Omerbasic said. “My life could’ve been taken away with me not telling everyone who I love that I love them.”

Hill said the 1999 model bus had passes inspection in the past year and district officials are investigating why the coolant system broke and how the scalding water got inside the bus.

The engine is in the back of the bus on these models. Students say since this experience they no longer want to sit in the back of a bus.

Hill says there were 46 people on board the bus, 42 White Knoll High School boy soccer players (18 varsity, 23 junior varsity), a student statistician, two coaches and a bus driver.