Stanford’s track team safe after charter bus fire in Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) — Stanford University’s track team is safe after a charter bus caught fire in Seattle on Friday.

The team was traveling to an invitational track meet at the University of Washington when some students noticed flames at the back of the bus as they traveled northbound on Interstate 5.

Stanford head coach Chris Miltenberg says all 31 students and coaches on board calmly disembarked and then ran up the road a safe distance away. Fire crews arrived on scene and extinguished the flames before the students’ luggage was destroyed.

When the students arrived at UW a short time later, they discovered their rivals were ready to help.

Stanford student and Seattle native Jordan Oakes says each member of the University of Washington track team had a bag of extra clothes ready for them in case they needed new gear. Oakes says it’s great that competitors can be supportive friends off the track.

Investigators believe the fire may have been sparked by overheated breaks and a blown out rear tire.