An Illinois man was arrested for allegedly driving a school bus drunk and crashing it with students aboard.
RELATED STORIES: Michigan School Bus Drivers Heroically Help Parents Save Their 2-Year-Old Boy After Being Carjacked
The incident occurred in Gurnee on Wednesday when Ryan J. Vanheissle,36, crashed the bus while driving under the influence with seven middle school children. Investigators said Vanheissle made a sharp turn and crashed into a brick mailbox, then denied he was drinking during an interview with police. He told officers that he blacked out during the crash, but officers later revealed he failed the sobriety tests.
During a vehicle search, officers found a bookbag containing alcoholic beverages and said he let out a cup of lemonade that smelled like it was mixed with alcohol. In a statement, Woodland District Superintendent Robert Machak said the district was cooperating with police and called the case a “very serious manner.”
“Woodland is committed to protecting the safety of our children and we will remain vigilant in taking all necessary steps to ensure that they are transported in a safe and supportive,”
The state has zero-tolerance laws for commercial drivers who drive while under the influence. According to the Law Office of Steven Fire, if a CDL holder is convicted of a DUI, they will be suspended for a year. Additionally, an automatic suspension for a year will be enforced if they refuse a chemical test.
“If a commercial driver was transporting hazardous materials at the time of arrest, a conviction will result in a three-year CDL suspension for a first offense. A subsequent DUI conviction is punishable by lifetime disqualification.”
RELATED STORIES: Nevada Mother Arrested After Attacking School Bus Driver Because He Dropped Her Kids Off An Hour Late
A parent whose child attended one of the schools within the district expressed on Twitter that she was upset about the incident but glad that no one was seriously injured during the crash.
I’m so glad no one got hurt and I’m so pissed that this is my sons school district 😡 https://t.co/YUfKyLpN7O
— jen (@mamacitajen_) December 16, 2022
The school bus DUI went viral on Facebook, and users believe he should’ve been charged more for the incident.
After the school bus driver’s case went viral on social media, users were outraged by his charges as they felt he should’ve been charged more for the reckless endangerment of a child. One user wrote, ‘Makes you wonder how many other times he drank before driving the buses?! Makes me sick to my stomach! Thank goodness all the kids were safe!’ It was also revealed that Vanheissle had a small criminal record.
“I know this will be a tax dollar issue, but why not put those breathalyzer things in busses in order to start the vehicle? I know it shouldn’t be an issue at all, but it’s not the 1st time I’ve read a story regarding this same problem.”
“Years ago, when we lived in WI, my son was on the bus when he said “I just saw corn stalks flying”. His bus driver was on Xanax and dozed off while driving a rural route. No one was hurt, and he & I laugh about it now. Hope all involved are okay.”