The IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team faced a life-threatening emergency Sunday when their team bus erupted in flames on Interstate 275. All 15 players and staff escaped unharmed through a swift evacuation minutes before flames engulfed the vehicle.
Every individual demonstrated exceptional composure during this crisis,stated university officials via social media.
Firefighters later shared images of the charred bus frame with completely destroyed seating areas and a collapsed roof. The incident occurred hours after the Jaguars’ 68-64 loss to Northern Kentucky, with the team traveling home when mechanical failure triggered the blaze.
Key developments:
- Bus driver detected smoke 22 miles from Indianapolis
- Emergency exits used for full evacuation in under 90 seconds
- Replacement bus transported team safely by midnight
Transportation experts emphasize this incident underscores NCAA guidelines for athletic travel safety protocols. While rare, such fires have occurred 14 times in collegiate sports since 2018 according to National Transportation Safety Board data.
University officials confirmed the bus was serviced three weeks prior to the trip. Investigations into the exact cause continue, with early evidence pointing to electrical system failures.