Just now:
HARTWELL, GA (FOX Carolina)-
A Megabus headed from Atlanta to Charlotte caught fire Wednesday afternoon, shutting down Interstate 85 northbound in Hart County, GA.
Passengers told FOX Carolina a tire that blew and as the bus was trying to stop, something overheated and caught fire in the rear of the bus.
The bus stopped near mile marker 179 just south of the South Carolina line about noon.
Five days ago:
LITCHFIELD, Ill. (AP) – A blown tire likely caused a double-decker bus to lurch out of control and strike a bridge pillar in the grassy median of an interstate highway, killing one passenger and injuring nearly four dozen others, an Illinois State Police investigator said Friday.
This bus was a year old. The tires were just inspected within this last month.
Barring road debris this tire should not have failed. What I suspect is going on is related to the new heat we are now experiencing. The road beds if they are some form of macadam will have varying tar content and consistency depending on the prevailing environment. If this material becomes sticky it will increase friction. Friction causes heat. Heat destroys tires. We need to look at our highways and do the work needed to correct this.
Even concrete pad highways are suceptible to holding heat intensely and magnifying the effect during the day. Hence all those great Route 66 mirage photos.
That or invest in some heavy non-blowout tires.
Oh. And the entire maintenance and supply departments for Megabus need to be audited.