
The IU Indianapolis (IU Indy) men’s basketball team found themselves in a situation straight out of an action movie on Sunday.
Following their game against Northern Kentucky, the team’s players and coaches had to flee their team bus after it caught fire on Interstate 275 near Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
Everyone was successfully evacuated, and no injuries were reported. A viewer sent a video to WLWT showing the bus’s back end wholly engulfed in flames.
The outlet reports that the bus had experienced mechanical issues. And while all passengers were safe and accounted for, all of the team’s equipment was reportedly lost.
NEW VIDEO: A WLWT view has shared new video of the IU Indy bus that caught fire while returning from a game at Northern Kentucky University on Sunday. Thankfully, no one was injured. https://t.co/E7Zc054mOz pic.twitter.com/3X616THQpX
— WLWT (@WLWT) February 24, 2025
IU Indy Bus Explodes
According to online reports, the IU Indy bus also exploded. The team was roughly 90 minutes into their 175-mile trek back to Indianapolis when the bus driver noticed something was off.
Quick thinking took over: the driver and a coach hopped out to assess the situation, only to see flames emanating from the back.
Everyone was immediately evacuated, and as a result, all kinds of team equipment – jerseys, laptops, and personal belongings in the undercarriage storage – were left behind.
The video of the bus being turned into an inferno is jaw-dropping. Moments later, it exploded, reducing the vehicle to a charred skeleton.
This is absolutely terrifying and insane.
#BREAKING: A bus carrying the IU Indy men’s basketball team caught fire earlier tonight near Kent, Indiana.
— Kyla Russell (@KylaBRussell) February 24, 2025
The team says everyone evacuated and there were no injuries.
Photo credit: Amber Pickett@WISHNews8 #Indianapolis #IUINDY pic.twitter.com/9YfCTfYRmQ
“On the return drive from today’s game against Northern Kentucky, the bus carrying the IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team experienced a mechanical issue, that caused a fire around Kent, Indiana,” the team’s athletic department tweeted.
Another bus was eventually called to the scene, and the team was transported back home safely.
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Community Rallying
Reports also indicate that some of the students lost their wallets, personal cell phones, and laptops, on top of the university losing all of their gear.
A fundraiser has been posted online in an effort to help get the team back on its feet.
Update regarding the losses: @iuindy_mbb HC Paul Corsaro said players and coaches lost laptops, team gear and personal belongings. Luckily everyone got out in time. Please donate if you can 🙏🏼https://t.co/k9McHt9Gzd https://t.co/XjaOLpDIAs
— Ivetta (@IvettaAbramyan) February 24, 2025
Unfortunately, IU Indy also lost the game against Northern Kentucky, 71 to 67. They have had a difficult season in general, posting a 9-20 record thus far.
They will be taking on Robert Morris on Thursday before facing Wright State to close out the regular season on March 1st.
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