School Bus Driver Charged With DUI In Crystal Lake Crash

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A 75-year-old Lake in the Hills man was arrested for driving a school bus while under the influence of prescription drugs and then crashing the bus, which had children on board, into a Jeep and another school bus, police said Wednesday. Wayne Desparte, of 4320 Greenfield Drive in Lake in the Hills, has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence, a Class 4 felony; and child endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor. The charges stem from a May 2 crash in the parking lot of Hannah-Beardsley Middle School, 515 East Crystal Lake Avenue, according to a news release from the Crystal Lake Police Department.

Officers determined while investigating the crash that Desparte's bus struck another school bus, which was parked in the loading/unloading zone in front of the school, at about 7:40 a.m. Desparte's bus had kids on board but the second bus only had a driver inside, according to police. Officers said the bus driven by Desparte also struck another vehicle, a black Jeep Renegade, while en route to the middle school and headed south on Terra Cotta Road north of Route 176.

Both crashes appeared to be minor, authorities said. No one was injured in either crashes.

While investigating the collisions, authorities learned Desparte was possibly under the influence of prescription drugs while operating the school bus.

He was subsequently arrested for the offense of DUI," Crystal Lake Police Deputy Chief Derek Hyrkas said in a Wednesday news release. "Following a review of the incident with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, a felony DUI enhancement was approved."

Photo via Crystal Lake Police Department