NY Times Reporter Live-Tweets His Chicago Megabus’ Explosion
A writer for New York Times‘ Frugal Traveler blog got more than he bargained for when his trip turned into a live account of how his bus blew up.
Lucas Peterson was traveling on a Megabus outside of Chicago earlier today, when his live-tweets captured the trip taking a very unusual turn:
An hour into trip, turning around to "switch buses." Currently learning that on @megabus, you get what you pay for. pic.twitter.com/6JagtWZEow
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
While that might be enough to be called a bad trip by itself, things didn’t really get much better.
Update: the bus is on fire. pic.twitter.com/alvXtoHbwL
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
and then…
Update: the bus exploded. pic.twitter.com/Sd0rBYN714
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Emergency services here now pic.twitter.com/40BDWMM1q5
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
we're trying to see if everyone got off the bus ok… Most luggage got incinerated
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
They've got us all standing in a grassy area by the highway awaiting further instruction pic.twitter.com/m3sZPBQw9e
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
What's left of the bus. pic.twitter.com/9nCdhHINLf
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
In an accompanying statement on Twitter, Peterson described how the bus pulled over on the highway after one of the tires blew as they headed back to Chicago. The passengers got off when the vehicle started smoking, and while no one was hurt, most of the luggage was lost in the inferno.
A replacement bus was dispatched to pick up the travelers, but Peterson noted that a lot of people were angry when they looked up Megabus’ liability policy.
passengers are looking up Megabus TOC which limits liability to $250; some very unhappy people. pic.twitter.com/8p5QDVIgS5
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Passenger Alice Taylor estimates she lost $1700 worth of possessions, including her laptop. pic.twitter.com/nNcnzNJf5V
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
Darnell McKinney says he was moving STL to MIL and lost most of his possessions, SS & credit cards, birth certif. pic.twitter.com/voWcn1UYVQ
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
In the end, another bus did come and the travelers made it to Milwaukee without further incident.
…and we're back on the replacement megabus. pic.twitter.com/jyfhwBwCIM
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
about 5 hours later, arrived in Milwaukee. Wishing everyone who stayed on bus safe journey to Twin Cities. pic.twitter.com/ldboKmY642
— The Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) February 21, 2016
[h/t Business Insider]
[Image via Twitter]
