Prescribed Medication Caused School Bus Driver to Crash: Lawyer

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A former bus driver for Crystal Lake Elementary District 47 simply "misestimated" the effect medication prescribed to him for anxiety would affect him prior to a crash that occurred in May 2018, authorities said. Wayne E. Desparte, of Lake in the Hills, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI last week and received a year of court supervision.

Desparte, of the 4000 block of Greenfield Drive in Lake in the Hills, was officially charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence and child endangerment in connection the May 2 crash in the parking lot of Hannah-Beardsley Middle School, 515 East Crystal Lake Avenue, authorities said. Both of those charges were dismissed.

• School Bus Driver Charged With DUI In Crystal Lake Crash

Defense Attorney Ray Flavin said received a prescription for anxiety and his doctor warned him to evaluate the medication's effect before driving, according to the Daily Herald. Desparte did not notice any effect the next day after taking the pills. The next day, May 2, 2018, he became drowsywhile driving the school bus and ended up striking a parked vehicle while there were five kids on board, according to the article.

Also, while en route to the middle school, Desparte allegedly hit another vehicle, a black Jeep Renegade, on Terra Cotta Road north of Route 176.

No one was injured in either of the crashes.