WASHINGTON — A man stowed in the luggage compartment of a Greyhound bus has life-threatening injuries after a fire on the vehicle Thursday afternoon.
The driver of the bus was traveling south on Interstate 95 around 2:30 p.m. when he saw and smelled smoke coming from the cabin. The driver pulled over and exited safely along with 28 passengers.
Stafford County Fire and Virginia Police arrived at the scene and found a man in the luggage compartment with life-threatening injuries. He was flown to Washington Hospital Center (MedStar).
There were no other injuries.
Virginia State Police said Thursday night they believe a lit cigarette likely started the fire.
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office arranged for the passengers to be transported via school bus to a safe location off the interstate.
State Police are continuing to investigate the incident, but say the man hopped into the luggage compartment in New York. The bus was headed to Atlanta, but was scheduled to stop in Richmond to switch drivers.
Southbound traffic along I-95 in Garrisonville was significantly impacted with all lanes reopening around 7:20 p.m. Thursday.
The scene on 95 @WTOPtraffic pic.twitter.com/rBkAKExJqq
— Brandon Meade (@meade7689) May 7, 2015
