The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office (SLCSO) in Minnesota announced that a school bus driver was arrested on Wednesday for “driving under the influence” with 17 children on board.
The driver was identified as Anthony Israelson, the press release said. readPolice allege that the suspect's preliminary breath test showed a “blood alcohol content of 0.16.”
According to a press release, police received a call just after midnight on September 4 from a “concerned citizen” who spotted Israelson drinking alcohol while off-duty. The caller claimed the suspect “would likely not sober up until the morning when he would begin his patrols.” SLCSO officers arrived at Israelson's home just after 6 a.m., and Israelson allegedly told police he was not working that day. This information was passed on to the school district. An hour later, authorities received a call stating Israelson “was in fact working and had begun his patrols” and pulled his bus over.
SLCSO stopped the bus without incident and no children were injured, the press release stated. “The school district deployed personnel to protect the bus and students at Southridge School in Alborn, and parents were notified of the incident,” SLSCO wrote. (RELATED: Naples mayor caught on camera struggling with breathalyzer test after DUI arrest)
According to the press release, Minnesota law has “zero tolerance” for driving a school bus while intoxicated, regardless of blood alcohol level.
“We take the safety of our students and staff very seriously, and we are working with the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office as they conduct their investigation. Despite the bus driver shortage, we are taking every step to ensure we have enough drivers to cover routes to get our students to school safely.”” “We're very grateful for the support,” St. Louis County School District Superintendent Dr. Reggie Engebritson said on Northern News Now. Reported.
“We could have lost our child on his second day of school because of something that was 100 percent preventable,” Cathy Williams, a parent of a child on the bus, told the outlet. The bus driver was convicted of drunk driving in 2005, according to the outlet. Israelson also has a record for speeding and driving without wearing a seat belt, according to the outlet.
