Bus breakdown leaves dozens stranded at Roanoke journey middle, passengers say

ROANOKE, La. (KPLC) – Dozens of passengers had been stranded in Roanoke Saturday after their bus broke down with a flat tire, leaving them caught at a gasoline station with no clear timeline for assist.

One of the stranded passengers tells us that about 25 individuals boarded FlixBus No. 957 round 11 p.m. Friday evening in New Orleans.

She mentioned the bus suffered a blown tire that sparked a wheel fireplace, and the motive force had everybody get off at Peto’s I-10 Travel Center and Casino in Roanoke. The bus then pulled away, leaving them — together with their baggage — on the roadside cease.

The passenger says Greyhound has informed passengers that their solely recourse is to get to a Greyhound station in both Lafayette or Lake Charles, however that the passengers can’t afford what they are saying is a $200 Uber trip to get there.

FlixBus says the corporate doesn’t function the buses immediately and that each one providers are run by unbiased bus operators, stating {that a} bus operated by one in all these firms skilled a flat tire and was unable to finish the trip.

Around 2:30 p.m., they mentioned {that a} rescue bus was on the best way to choose up the passengers, however didn’t give an estimated time of arrival.

A spokesperson for FlixBus despatched the next assertion:

“We understand how frustrating travel disruptions can be and regret the inconvenience caused by the flat tire on a bus operated by an independent operator. While these instances are rare, our operators work to provide timely support when they occur. We sincerely apologize for the disruption and appreciate passengers’ patience and understanding as they wait for a rescue bus to take them to their destination.”

Another bus did arrive simply after 3 p.m. on Saturday, in line with our reporter on the scene.

This shouldn’t be the primary time one thing like this has occurred. In May 2024, a number of passengers had been stranded at a gasoline station and on line casino in Lake Charles after the bus they had been touring on broke down.