See Bus Carrying UConn Students Engulfed in Flames on Massachusetts Road

The fire erupted in Sturbridge, about 60 miles west of Boston.

ByABC News
April 18, 2015, 4:33 PM
A bus fully engulfed in flames in Sturbridge, Massachusetts Saturday afternoon.
A bus fully engulfed in flames in Sturbridge, Massachusetts Saturday afternoon.
Marisa Debboli

— -- A University of Connecticut student says "no one was prepared" for when their senior trip came to an abrupt end today, as their bus became engulfed in flames on the side of a Massachusetts road.

The fire erupted this afternoon in Sturbridge, about 60 miles west of Boston, the Massachusetts State Police in Charlton said.

The full bus was carrying about 40 students, according to police, and no injuries were reported.

PHOTO: A crowd gathers at the scene of a bus fire in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, April 18, 2015.
A crowd gathers at the scene of a bus fire in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, April 18, 2015.
PHOTO: Crews respond to a bus fire in Sturbridge, Mass., April 18, 2015.
Crews respond to a bus fire in Sturbridge, Mass., April 18, 2015.

Student Ashley Vollmer said the group was heading to Boston for a senior cruise when, about 15 or 20 minutes into the ride, she saw smoke on the bus.

Vollmer said the bus driver pulled over briefly, but then the ride continued.

She said they heard a loud bang and the driver pulled over again.

There was a lot of smoke as they were exiting, Vollmer said, and as soon as they were all off, the bus caught fire.

"It was insane," Vollmer said. "No one was prepared."

"It was very scary," she added.

The fire was extinguished around 3:30 p.m., police said, and crews have left the scene.

According to Vollmer, their bus driver got on a different bus and continued towards Boston, leaving the students on the side of the road. UConn buses have picked up the students to take them back to school, she added.