SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. -
UPDATE: South Burlington police say the cause appears to be mechanical failure.
One dog is dead, another is ok, after a Gulliver's Doggie Daycare bus caught fire, and exploded Tuesday afternoon in South Burlington.
The driver, John Thamann, of Jericho, has burns to his hands, head and back as well as some smoke inhalation.
"I first saw a dog running around in the street, so I went out to try and chase it and then I looked up, I saw the Gulliver's bus on fire," Witness Zack Offer said.
Zack Offer caught this amazing cell phone video.
Flames, and thick black smoke is billowing from what looks to be the front of the bus.
"It was definitely like an explosion, it almost looked like there were fireworks inside the bus," Offer said.
He says the bus "kind of popped." Police say two dogs were inside, one died.
They say the driver may have some burns and smoke inhalation. He was taken to the hospital, but was able to talk to police.
"The driver of the bus behind me, he started smelling smoke. He was just about to pull over when it started to go on fire," South Burlington Sgt. James Mills said.
Gulliver's described the bus as a "happy thing." It was visibly charred.
"Not the way I'd like to start my New Year," Zack Offer said.
Fox 44 did speak with Amanda Poquette, a manager at Gulliver's.
She said she knows the driver did everything he could to save the dogs.
Poquette did say the bus was up to date on inspections, and had been in for routine maintenance just within the past few weeks.
Police also tell us, South Burlington Officer Dan Boyer suffered some lung irriation, and was treated and released from Fletcher Allen.
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