[VIDEO] Cape Cod Tech students alert police… bus driver then arrested for OUI and other charges…
UPDATE – From the Massachusetts State Police:
Bus Driver Arrested For OUI While Transporting Students
At 6:23 p.m., the State Police Barracks in Yarmouth received a call from a concerned mother. The woman informed Trooper Jeffrey McCarthy that her daughter, a high school student at the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich, had called her from the bus she was on. She went on to explain that her daughter would be getting off the bus at the next stop because she felt the bus driver was operating in an unsafe manner. Trooper McCarthy, the desk officer, immediately put the information out to State Police patrols and the Barnstable Police Department. The bus was located by Trooper Seth Peterson in the Burger King Parking Lot on Route 6 westbound. Trooper Peterson stopped the bus, which still contained 5 student passengers, before it could reenter Route 6.
1. OUI Liquor, 2nd Offense
2. Child Endangerment While Operating a MV Under the Influence of Liquor
REDMOND was transported the to the State Police barracks in Yarmouth for booking. The Barnstable Police assisted in contacting the bus company to make arrangements to transport the 5 remaining children home. Barnstable officers remained at the scene until another bus driver arrived and the children departed the location. REDMOND is scheduled to be arraigned at Barnstable District Court on Monday morning at 9 a.m.
UPDATE – The following is a communication between the Cape Cod Tech Superintendent and parents:
CCT Students Safe After Serious Bus Incident
To All Members of the Cape Cod Tech Community,
This afternoon a Cape Destination’s driver entrusted with transporting our students to and from school was taken into police custody after one of our students called her mother to report her bus driver was driving erratically. The student’s mother contacted local police and informed them of the situation. Both mom and student are heroes today as they kept the driver from continuing his route. We are grateful for the quick thinking of our Cape Cod Tech student and her mother, as well as the Massachusetts State Police and Barnstable Police Department who ensured the safety of our students. Cape Cod Regional Technical High School is pleased to report that all students on the bus are home safe with their families this evening.
Robert Sanborn, Superintendent
bsanborn@capetech.us
Initial HN coverage:
WEST BARNSTABLE – [Developing] Children riding home on a Cape Cod Tech school bus were alarmed about their bus driver’s driving and called police…
At about 6:24pm, a Massachusetts State Trooper and a Barnstable Police Patrolman stopped the Cape Destinations school bus, which services Cape Cod Tech, in the parking lot in front of the Burger King on Route 132 across from the Route 6, Exit 6, off ramp…
The bus had been traveling west on Route 6 with children on board just prior to the stop.
Police had the driver step down from the bus and that’s when they reportedly smelled booze emanating from the driver…
Massachusetts State Trooper Seth Peterson guided the driver through a series of field sobriety tests, with Barnstable Patrolman John O’Hare standing nearby assisting.
An HN camera was rolling as Trooper Peterson took the middle-aged male driver into custody and placed him in the backseat of his cruiser.
Police stood by until parents could come and take custody of their children. A replacement bus driver eventually arrived to take possession of the school bus and the one remaining student who still needed a ride home.
Check back for updated details…
The following HN footage highlights the entire scene from start to finish.
[Press play… Select HD in settings and enlarge player for best quality…]
5/15/2015
Robert Bastille,
