School bus driver faces drink charges

A school bus driver has been charged with drink-driving after crashing into a car in Tauranga while taking 18 children home.

The 56-year-old crashed into a Toyota van at the intersection of Fraser St and 15th Ave at 4.05pm on Thurs-day. He was allegedly found by police to be over the legal alcohol limit.

The incident has shocked students, parents, the schools concerned and Bayline coaches, which said the driver was "disappointed" with himself.

A 15-year-old Tauranga Boys' College pupil on the bus, Alex Kleiss, recalled looking out the window and seeing the white van squashed against a pole: "Some girls screamed when it happened. It was a bit of a shock really. There was a big bang and a crash sound."

Alex's mother, Diane, was driving into town when she received a text message from her son about the crash. She said that when she arrived at the scene to pick up her son and his 12-year-old sister, Sacha, who attends Tauranga Intermediate School, the driver appeared "flustered". He was Alex and Sacha's regular driver and they were "quite attached to him".

Bayline managing director Tony Lugg said there had been no previous complaints or problems with the driver, who was in his second year of employment with the company.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drinking and this driver was well aware of that."

The driver had just started his after-school run on the 47-seater coach when the accident occurred.

Another driver had been sent to pick up the students who arrived home about 20 minutes later than usual.

Mr Lugg understood the driver's breath-alcohol level was allegedly just over the limit of 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath. The man's employment with Bayline would be decided after a court decision was reached.

Strategic Traffic Unit Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said none of the 18 children on the bus was injured.

The other school involved was Tauranga Girls' College.

The driver will appear in the Tauranga District Court. First time drink-drive offenders face a maximum fine of $4500 or three months in jail and disqualified for a minimum of six months.

If found guilty, the man is likely to also have his licence suspended.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES