A school bus driver in Connecticut has been arrested for DUI after she drove a school bus drunk while carrying 20 children on the bus, MSN is reporting.
Tammy Costello, 44, of Bristol, was arrested at Irving A. Robbins Middle School in Farmington after dropping off the kids. An officer had observed her swerving off the pavement; kids getting off the bus told police she had driven erratically. The police officer interviewed the driver and immediately became suspicious that she might be drunk. Her blood alcohol content was found to be.139 – three times the legal limit for commercial drivers, according to NBC Connecticut . Farming Police spokesperson Colin Ryan told reporters:
“He greeted students as they were getting off the bus, and a couple of them made reference to the potential that the driver may have hit a curb or two along the way.”
The school bus driver was charged with DUI, and with 20 counts of risk of injury to a minor – one for each of the kids on board the bus.
Farmington Superintendent Kathleen Greider assured parents, through a letter sent home with the kids, that they were checked out and did not appear to be injured.
“All students returned to class after a thorough assessment and parents were contacted. Please be assured that the safety of our students – your children – is our highest priority, and we take that responsibility very seriously.”
The bus driver’s company, M and J Bus Company, also sent a letter to concerned parents.
“The M and J Bus Company is appalled at the incident that occurred this morning involving one of our bus drivers. We are committed to working closely with the Farmington Police Department to conduct a thorough investigation of this incident. Please know that thorough background checks of all employees are conducted by the Department of Motor Vehicles before employees are allowed to transport students.”
The statement also noted that M and J bus drivers are subject to “rigorous” background checks, and drug and alcohol screenings, both pre-employment and random.
Costello was released on bond and is due to appear in court next Tuesday.
This is not the first time a school official has been found to be drunk while in charge of schoolchildren. Last summer, a teacher was found to be drunk while on a middle-school field trip to a bowling alley (see this Inquisitr article).
Have any of your kids ever been on a school bus with a dangerous driver? Let us know below.
Image courtesy of: MSN
