Drunk Dudley School Bus Driver Nearly 2 Times Over Legal Limit, Prosecutors Say
DUDLEY (CBS) -- A drunk Dudley school bus driver was nearly two times over the legal limit after crashing his bus with students on board Thursday afternoon, prosecutors say.
A judge ordered Scott Poirier, 42, of Dudley to stay away from kids and alcohol during his arraignment Friday morning. He has been charged with operating under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and child endangerment while operating under the influence.
Poirier was released and placed under house arrest.
Prosecutors say Poirier was drunk when he lost control of the bus around 3 p.m. on Hayden Pond Road and hit a telephone pole, causing wires to fall on top of it.
Citing the police report, prosecutors said Poirier told officers he had missed a stop for one of the students, attempted to back the bus up and that's when he struck the pole.
When police officers arrived, they saw Poirier fall down the bus' steps before trying to compose himself, prosecutors say. Police had him go back into the bus due to live wires being down in the area.
Investigators asked Poirier if he had drank any alcohol and he said he hadn't, prosecutors say. He did say he had taken DayQuil and NyQuil earlier in the day.
He failed field sobriety tests and then taken into custody, prosecutors said.
Nearly a dozen middle school students were on the bus at the time of the crash. No one was hurt, and the students were taken home by another bus.
He has been suspended by bus company, First Student, while the crash remains under investigation.
He will appear in court again in March.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports
