September 5, 2025 – Madera County Sheriff's Office officials report that on Thursday morning, Deputies responded to Avenue 8 and Road 23 1/2 after a Madera Unified School District bus driver was waved down by farm workers for smoke coming from the back of the vehicle.

Here is the statement on this incident shared by MUSD:

School Bus Incident Update – All Students Safe

Madera Unified would like to acknowledge what appears to be a mechanical malfunction that occurred this morning involving one of our school buses.

The bus, carrying students from La Vina and Madera South High School, stalled while traveling on Avenue 8 and Road 23 ½ and began to smoke. The driver immediately followed safety protocols and all students were safely evacuated. Shortly after evacuation, the bus did catch fire.

We want to reassure the public that neither the students nor the driver was harmed. All students were transported on another bus to their schools.

Our students’ safety and well-being are our top priority. We are deeply grateful to the good Samaritan who assisted, the driver who reacted quickly, and our first responders.

The cause of the incident is still under investigation and we are committed to taking all measures necessary to ensure our bus fleet meets every safety requirement.

Source & photos: Madera County Sheriff's Office