​Heroic Bus Driver Recognized By Council Rock, Newtown Twp. Police

WRIGHTSTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Administrators with the Council Rock School District joined the Newtown Township Police Department Monday morning to express their thanks to a Durham School Services bus driver who safely evacuated 36 students from his bus after it caught fire last week.

Arqam Ali was transporting students to the Wrightstown Elementary School on Penns Park Road Friday morning when the bus caught fire. According to district officials, he made sure that every student had evacuated safely from the bus, boarding the bus multiple times to make sure it was empty.

There were no injuries as a result of his quick actions, district officials said.

Just days before the incident, schools throughout the district, including Wrightstown Elementary,
had conducted bus evacuation drills, adding to the preparedness of the driver and the students for that morning.

Council Rock administrators and Newtown Township officers were on hand Monday morning to greet bus driver Arqam Ali as he arrived at Wrightstown Elementary School on his morning run.

Council Rock School District administrators, along with representatives from the Newtown Township Police Department, were on hand Monday morning at Wrightstown Elementary as Ali arrived for morning drop-off.

District Superintendent Dr. Andy Sanko joined Principal Sam Smith and Newtown Township Police Captain Jason Harris in thanking Ali personally for his actions to keep students safe.

“I know you had some unexpected things happen on Friday, and we are so very proud of you for the way you exited the bus and took care of each other," Dr. Sanko told the students.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Lingohocken Fire Company and the Newtown Township Police Department.

Students evacuated out of the rear door of the bus after fire broke out during its morning run on Friday. (Newtown Fire Rescue)

Firefighters attack the engine fire with hose lines. (Newtown Fire Rescue)