Drunk bus driver jailed for a year

A Hawke's Bay bus driver who was caught driving at nearly four times the legal alcohol limit with 11 passengers aboard has been jailed for a year.

Carl Ross Hughes, 50, appeared for sentencing at Hastings District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and drinking, the Dominion Post reported.

It was his third drink-driving conviction. He was previously convicted in 2003 and 1983.

Hughes tailgated other vehicles, crossed the centre line, and dangerously overtook a motorhome while driving a GoBus bus between Hastings and Napier in January.

Worried passengers reported his erratic driving to police.

When pulled over, Hughes told police he had been at a funeral and had had "bugger all" to drink, but later returned a blood test showing 293mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - the limit is 80mg.

He was subsequently dismissed by his employer.

Judge Geoff Rea said it "difficult to envisage worse facts than these on a straight drink-driving charge."

Hughes was also disqualified from driving for three years.

- NZPA