Just after midnight on August 28, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department received a call regarding a bus driver who worked for the St. Louis County School District. The caller reported that the man was supposed to drive a morning route transporting students to the South Ridge School in Culver, but said he consumed so much alcohol that he would not have enough time to sober up before operating the school bus. Minnesota’s legal blood alcohol concentration limit for most drivers is 0.08%, but they have a statute wherein those who drive a school bus are barred from having any alcohol in their system.
The authorities collected his information and got in touch with the 44-year-old man. When the police asked him about the situation, he let them know he was not going to work that day. The authorities followed up by calling the school district to confirm the information, and they reported that he was currently on the road in a school bus.
Sheriff’s deputies found the bus along its route, and when it was pulled over, it was reported that they counted 17 students on board. None of the passengers were injured, and the school district arranged for alternate transportation to get them to the school. It was purported that the driver was still intoxicated from the prior evening, and they asked him to take a breath test, and the results reportedly showed that he had a blood alcohol concentration of .16%.
The man was taken into custody on suspicion of DWI.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a DUI/DWI offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.