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A St. Louis County School District school bus driver was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated while transporting students Wednesday morning, according to a news release issued by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities say the situation began shortly after midnight Wednesday, when deputies were advised the bus driver was consuming alcohol while off duty and would not be sober by the start of his shift Wednesday morning.
Deputies went to the driver’s home around 6 a.m. and he told law enforcement he was not working. Staff with the St. Louis County School District was informed of the driver’s activity and his statement to law enforcement, authorities say.
Around 7 a.m. district officials alerted authorities that the suspected drunk bus driver had started his route. Deputies located and stopped the bus without incident, the news release said.
The driver, identified as 44-yearold Anthony Israelson, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree DWI.
Authorities say 17 students at South Ridge School were riding on the bus at the time of the traffic stop.
None of the students were hurt and district staff took custody of the students. Officials say the students’ parents were notified of the incident.
The news release says a preliminary breath test measured Israelson’s blood alcohol concentration at 0.16.
Minnesota law does not allow anyone transporting students to be under the influence of alcohol. Israelson is being held in the St. Louis County Jail.
