Several School Buses Torched In Worcester
WORCESTER (CBS) - Seven school buses were destroyed by fire overnight in Worcester. Now, police are calling the fire suspicious and asking for the public's help.
Police say a driver on I-290 spotted the flames and called 911 just after 2 a.m.
"Apparently there's seven brand new buses that were on fire or receiving damage from the fire," says Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst of the Worcester Police Department.
The small buses were bought last year by the Durham Bus Company and had less than 12,000 miles on them. They each cost about $50,000. They're contracted by Worcester schools to drive students to and from summer school and camp.
WBZ-TV's Diana Perez reports.
Police are still looking into who sparked the blaze and why but Lisa Carter, a bus driver with the company for five years, has her own theory: "I would say kids, vandalism. It's sad, it's sick someone with sick minds to something like this."
As part of the investigation, Sgt. Hazelhurst says officers are talking to a number of witnesses and taking a look at surveillance video from cameras on Crescent Street across the street from the bus yard.
"We did receive some info at this point about a vehicle seen prior to the fire however its preliminary and we are still trying to determine if this vehicle had anything to do with this fire," said Sgt. Hazelhurst.
Drivers like Carter, meanwhile, are left to use the back up buses and will likely have more runs added to her day: "It's going to make it worse on us we're going to have to pick up more students."
The bus company's general manager says they plan on pressing charges when those responsible are arrested.
Anyone with information about the blaze is being asked to call the Worcester Police Department.
