Bus Filled With Kids Catches Fire On I-95

It was an amazing story of survival Friday morning, when a bus carrying a group of young track athletes burst into flames on northbound I-95 in Brevard County. The bus was loaded with 42 people, including 32 children.

Everyone got off the burning bus in time, but now, the race is on to help them get to Virginia in time for the meet after they lost virtually everything.

It only took a few minutes for flames to engulf a charter bus along I-95. A passing truck saw smoke pouring out of the back and waved down the driver. More than two-dozen young athletes and their chaperones were woken from sleep and raced to get out of the bus, just before they heard explosions.

"They were saying, ‘Get out! Get out!’" said bus fire victim Walter Tucker.

BUS IN FLAMES: See Images | Watch Raw VideoAFTER THE FIRE: See Images | Raw Interviews

The team from Ft. Lauderdale was stranded under a Port St. John overpass until a WFTV viewer decided to help, calling on the St. James AME Church to shuttle the passengers to a Titusville motel.

The young athletes tried to keep their hopes up even though their shoes, uniforms, and spending money were all burned.

“I still have faith. It just makes me want to win more. Want the victory more," bus fire victim Jamika Blades said.

Titusville's Police Athletic League took the athletes to a sporting good store as generous donors offered up cash to buy new running shoes.

"One's for cross training, the other is for racing," Blades said.

Then the team was left hanging as hour after hour passed, waiting for Advantage Charter Bus Company to provide a new bus. The company said they were bringing a replacement from Tampa.

Anxious coaches sat by trying to reassure their athletes that they would make it to Virginia in time to compete.

"It’s about the kids. Don't want to disappoint them and they've worked very hard," said Coach Eric Saunders.

Advantage Bus Company couldn't explain why it was taking so long to get a bus there.

The Gowins Youth Foundation out of Melbourne got a replacement bus from AMC Transportation, but if they leave now they will get to Virginia at 7:00am, which is one hour before the national track meet begins.