A school bus ... the bus driver said, 'Everybody get off the bus.'" Local residents who witnessed the dramatic incident unfold said they were also scared. "I heard a big boom.

Pace, who has driven with the CH-UH Schools for 11 years, said he had already pulled over at the corner of Cambridge and Northampton roads after hearing a “big boom” from under the bus.

The bus was transporting 15 students to Monticello Middle School when the fire broke out on Feb. 27 Latoya Gayle joined PEOPLE as an Associate Editor in 2024. Her work has previously appeared in ...