On Sept. 21, a school bus driver was driving a high school football team consisting of 37 students and 4 coaches to an area high school after a game. The passengers on the bus claim that the 57-year-old Colorado school bus driver was driving carelessly and hit a parked vehicle when the bus arrived at its destination. Police have accused the man of drunk driving.
According to a breath test given to the driver by police, his blood alcohol level was .213. This is nearly three times the legal blood alcohol limit in Colorado. It is not known whether the bus driver submitted to a blood test to confirm those results. At last report, the driver was taken into custody and is being held on a $4,000 bond.
Fortunately, no one suffered any injuries during the 10-mile trip. Nevertheless, the bus driver has been charged with one count of child abuse for each of the 37 students, one count of reckless endangerment for each of the four coaches, driving under the influence and careless driving. He could face significant penalties if convicted on these charges.
The parents of the students that were on the bus may have already made up their minds that the bus driver is guilty of drunk driving. Nevertheless, anyone accused of a crime remains innocent in the eyes of the law until and unless they are proved guilty in a court of law. Every such individual has the right to prepare and present a criminal defense and to challenge the legality of the evidence offered in support of the charges. A thorough review of the facts and evidence may help in determining the best course of action for this man and his family.
Source: NBC 11 News, Colorado high school bus driver accused of DUI, No author, Oct. 25, 2013
