Bus tyre explosion shakes central city

A bus tyre exploded on Willow Street. Photo: Joel Ford

Bus travellers were shaken by a unexpected explosion at Tauranga's Willow St bus station this afternoon.
The right front tyre exploded about 1.45pm as the bus driver drove into swap shifts with another driver.
The female driver was understood to have had a "heck of a fright".
People waiting nearby told the Bay of Plenty Times it sounded like a shotgun had gone off in a "huge explosion" which could be heard 200m down the road.
A teenager waiting for a bus said the explosion shook the whole bus shelter.