A bus carrying high school students from an athletic event caught fire early Saturday night on Interstate 93 near Exit 17 in Canterbury, closing the two southbound lanes and clogging traffic enough for travelers to walk their dogs.
State police said no one was injured. By press time, the cause of the fire was unknown, one lane had been opened to traffic, and the bus, charred from the midpoint to its back end, had not been removed. It was unknown Saturday night which school the students attended.
A press release said state police responded at 5:17 p.m. Firefighters from Canterbury and Northfield had trouble moving through what amounted to a highway parking lot.
“Troopers had to respond northbound in the southbound lane clearing traffic so fire tankers could deliver water to the scene,” according to a statement by state police, released shortly after 8 p.m.
Cars were at a dead stop in both directions near Exit 18, about five miles from the bus. Drivers and passengers enjoying the three-day holiday weekend and foliage left their cars to congregate on the I-93 shoulder. Some took their dogs for walks, while others made cell phone calls while standing near the guardrail as the sun began to set.
Mark and Joanne Bento of New Bedford, Mass., spent the day shopping in North Conway before having dinner in Meredith. They were driving to their hotel in Concord and by 6:15 p.m. hadn’t moved in 45 minutes.
“I’ve never seen it like this, and we’re from Massachusetts where it happens all the time.” Joanne Bento said.
Jamie Royer of Pembroke was returning from a fall baseball league game in Winnisquam with his son Jackson, a third baseman. His wife, who had been in another car behind him, managed to avoid the congestion.
“She saw a DOT sign before Exit 18,” Royer said. “She’s home already getting dinner started. We’ll have to make due with some snacks.”
Laurie Doucet was driving from her home in Laconia to a restaurant in Concord for her nephew’s 12th birthday party. By 6:30 p.m. she figured she’d missed it. Then she called her family.
“Are you stuck, too?” she asked on the phone. “Well, I guess I haven’t missed it yet.”