A school bus driver in Minnesota who reportedly said he had taken cold medicine is facing charges after being accused of driving under the influence with students on board.
On November 20, a 55-year-old school bus driver from M&M Bus Service, who was dropping off students attending Maple Lake High School, was involved in an incident. According to reports, one of the multiple student passengers thought they detected the smell of alcohol and believed it was coming from the driver. A school resource officer was notified about the situation, and the authorities began investigating the claim.
The authorities alerted the bus company about the report, and they decided to have the driver pull over while they sent someone else to complete the route. The man stopped the bus without incident, and none of the students were injured. It was reported that he returned to the service garage before he was visited by a deputy from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
While they discussed the allegations made against him, the deputy reported that he believed the man was displaying signs of being intoxicated or altered. He was asked if he had imbibed any alcohol, and the man reportedly told the deputy he had not been drinking, but that he had taken NyQuil. He was given a preliminary breath test, and the results showed that he had a 0.082 blood-alcohol concentration.
The man was taken into custody and booked into the Washington County Jail. He is facing preliminary charges of child endangerment and three counts of operating a motor vehicle under the influence. According to a letter from the Maple Lake Public Schools Superintendent, the bus company said the man was “removed from duty effective immediately” as a result of the situation.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.