Bus Driver Was Drunk While Taking 35 Children To Camp In Minnesota: Police

CARLTON COUNTY, MN — A bus driver was arrested over the weekend after transporting nearly 40 passengers — including 35 children — while drunk, according to authorities.

Minnesota state police responded about 11:15 a.m. Sunday to a complaint about a charter bus and stopped the bus after seeing it commit traffic violations on northbound Interstate 35 in Carlton County near Duluth, law enforcement said.

The driver, Patrick David Bullard, 49, of Cannon Falls, was arrested on suspicion of third-degree driving under impairment and booked into the Carlton County Jail, according to police. A replacement driver took over transporting the 35 children and two adults on the bus, police said.

The passengers were campers and counselors from YMCA of the North who were on their way to Camp Warren in upstate Eveleth, the YMCA said in a statement. The bus had been weaving on the highway and police found that Bullard had an open bottle of alcohol hidden in a backpack, according to the YMCA, which said the bus was contracted through Northfield Lines.

“We will be monitoring any actions taken by Northfield Bus Lines as we review our relationship with them for the future,” said the statement, which noted the campers and counselors made it safely to their destination and all the children’s families were contacted.

Northfield Lines President John Benjamin said in a statement that he was "extremely shocked and disappointed," that his company had "never experienced an event like this," and that Bullard "made a very poor choice and will be held accountable." All Northfield Lines employees go through drug and alcohol screenings and criminal background checks, Benjamin said, adding a Minnesota Department of Transportation audit conducted after the incident found the company had followed state and federal standards.

"While we are distraught over what has happened we are extremely thankful that all passengers were safe and unharmed," Benjamin said.

The bus almost went into a ditch before it was stopped, KARE 11 reported, noting Bullard’s blood-alcohol level was over six times the legal limit; he was in possession of a large, partially-empty bottle of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky; and a cup in his cupholder contained a beverage that smelled like Fireball. Bullard was charged with two counts of driving while intoxicated, as well as possessing and drinking from an open bottle, according to KARE 11.