‘The doors, thank God, opened’

DAVIE, Fla. – The driver of the double-decker tour bus that erupted in flames on Interstate 595 on Friday in Davie was credited with saving his passengers.

Derek Ryan Sanberg, of Miami Tours, told another driver told him about the fire and he stopped about 2:30 pm, along the westbound lanes of I-595.

“Two minutes, you got two minutes,” Sanberg said about the time he had to get everybody out.

On the day of the fire, Fillippo Muzifalconi, a tourist visiting South Florida from Italy, said he was grateful for Sanberg who acted quickly.

“The driver immediately opened the door and we ran out,” Muzifalconi said. “The driver, I thought he was a hero. “He got out of the bus as the last person, waiting for everyone.”

Sanberg, 54, said he did what any other driver would have done. He said he also saw the smoke, so he pulled over and stopped the bus.

“Everything shutdown: Engine, breaks popped, shut down,” Sandberg said. “The doors, thank God, opened, so I opened up — ‘Everybody out!’ I just started screaming, ‘Every body out!’”

A Fort Lauderdale police officer helped ensure everyone had evacuated the bus. The fire destroyed the bus near Nob Hill Road.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol and Davie Fire Rescue, there was a mechanical issue and the fire started in the engine at the back of the bus.