PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — State police are investigating after a school bus lost two wheels while carrying students from Elk County who were traveling to Pittsburgh on a field trip.

According to state police, the bus was traveling south on Route 28 when the driver’s side rear wheel came loose at the exit near the Pittsburgh Mills mall.

The bus was able to stop and no injuries or property damage was reported as a result of the incident.

State police in Kittanning say the bus was part of the Muccio Bus Company and they are investigating the possibility that it may have been tampered with.

The bus was towed away to be examined by state police.

They want to know how 10 lug nuts came off the bus.

“At the time, I was probably running 50 miles an hour,” Joe Mehalko, the school bus driver, said.

Mehalko says the buses owned by the company have been vandalized before, but never anything like this.

“I was kind of curious as to what actually happened, why I have never seen 10 lug nuts come off of a wheel and both wheels come off.”

The fourth-graders were not hurt and were able to enjoy their trip to the Carnegie Science Center.

“That bus was inspected yesterday and it was washed yesterday after it come back from its run and there was apparently nothing wrong with it at that time,” Mehalko said. “And when I looked at the lug nuts this morning before I left, they were all there.”

RELATED LINKS:
More Local News