The report I heard was from a Mr. Wilson who survived the fire. He was on a stretcher when they interviewed him. He said they had one flat tire, and DOT helped the driver fix it. He said after about 2 miles they heard another pop and then the fire. Mr. Wilson was trying to re-tell the story when a reporter interrupted him. As far as the driver going back into the bus I saw that on another clip from an article off of Google News. I will try to look through my history page and get that link.
I did not hear a report that there was a known problem with the brake when he continued after fixing the tire. I will admit though I haven't read or watched any follow-up reports for several hours regarding the bus fire.
Here is the link to the AP video report containing info from a police official who said the driver survived and also went back into the bus several times. The clip is short, and doesn't contain a lot of info as far as cause due to it being an early report.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-092305rita_vid,0,396967.wmvfile?coll=la-home-headlines
Regarding the part of the "story" about the brake...
I got in late to a discussion of the accident on a local radio show...and an airplane mechanic was saying that he is asked to check out everything on a plane...and if he saw that a part needed to be changed...and knew it was dangerous if that part wasn't changed...
He would NOT just let someone else ignore it..and that HE would lose his job if he did...
Then the other person said that, that was what was being reported, that the driver had been told about the brake..but didn't fix it...the caller then said that in that case...the guy that was putting the tire on SHOULD HAVE REFUSED to put the tire on, until the brake was fixed.
So, he was blaming the mechanic more than the driver...
I report what I heard...no jud-ge-ments from me.
This is probably going to get uglier.
http://cbs11tv.com/localnews/local_story_266164057.html
"Records raise safety questions about faulty brakes, proper insurance coverage and whether Global Tours and Charters, of McAllen, Texas, was even legally allowed to operate its six buses, one of which was left a burnt shell holding some two-dozen corpses early Friday morning on Interstate-45 near Wilmer. . . "