At 5:40a.m. Friday, local authorities received a call for a charter bus that was on fire in the southbound lanes of Highway 218 near the intersection of 240th street just north of Ainsworth.

As heard on KCII from the scene, the bus was fully engulfed and traffic was at a standstill in the southbound lanes of the highway. Local authorities are asking for the public to please avoid the area at this time and find an alternate route. Responding to the scene were Ainsworth Fire, Crawfordsville Fire, Washington Fire, Riverside Fire and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. KCII will bring you more information when it becomes official.