Evacuation Tragedy

Emergency crews investigate the scene where a bus caught fire and exploded on northbound Interstate 45, Friday, Sept. 23, in Wilmer, Texas. The bus carrying elderly evacuees from Hurricane Rita caught fire and was rocked by explosions on a gridlocked highway near Dallas, killing as many as 24 people, authorities said. The bus, with about 45 people on board, had been traveling since Thursday.

The bus in flames before the fire was extinguished.

Another view of the burning bus.

Emergency crews investigate the scene where a bus caught fire and exploded on northbound Interstate 45, Friday, Sept. 23, in Wilmer, Texas.

An emergency crew investigates the scene where a bus caught fire and exploded on northbound Interstate 45, Friday, Sept. 23, in Wilmer, Texas.

Emergency crews investigate the scene where a bus caught fire and exploded on northbound Interstate 45, Sept. 23, in Wilmer, Texas.

A burned out patch of grass is seen where a bus carrying nursing home evacuees caught fire, causing fatalities during the evacuation from Hurricane Rita, Sept. 23, 2005, in Wilmer, Texas.