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A motorist reportedly called authorities last Wednesday to report a school bus driver who was allegedly driving erratically. Eventually, the bus driver for the Yadkin County schools was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired. However, news reports indicate that the basis of the DWI charges apparently does not include allegations of alcohol consumption, but rather some form of medication.

Many drivers in North Carolina may be shocked to learn that medications, even legally prescribed medications, can lead to DWI charges in the state. It is unclear in the public media what medication police believe that the bus driver may have taken before the recent arrest. However, the bus driver was arrested on suspicion of DWI, and was also reportedly fired after the allegations arose.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol claims that the school bus drove off of the roadway while traveling on Old Highway 421 Wednesday. The authorities say that the bus nearly hit a sign and a tree in that alleged incident. Police claim that the bus was ultimately involved in some kind of accident and the driver fled the scene with 15 students onboard. Details of that alleged accident are also not covered in media reports.

Police claim that when they spoke with the bus driver, he said that he had taken some form of medication that had made him drowsy. Apparently, based at least in part on that alleged statement, law enforcement arrested the driver on suspicion of DWI, failing to maintain control and leaving the scene of an accident. Apparently, law enforcement obtained a sample from the driver that will be used for toxicology tests.

None of the students were harmed.

Source: WFMY News 2 via digitriad.com, “Bus Driver Charged With DWI, Left Scene After Crash With Students On Bus In Yadkin County,” June 8, 2012

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A former North Carolina state trooper recently took his drunk driving charges to trial. The man was forced to retire after suffering an off-duty back injury. The 37-year-old reportedly says that he felt sick and was experiencing back pain Jan. 24, 2011.

He reportedly says that he took two prescribed medications to help him sleep and to control the pain. It appears that those two medications later became the basis for North Carolina DWI charges against the former trooper.

The man says that he remembers taking the prescribed codeine around 3:30 in the afternoon and an Ambien pill around 7:30 in the evening before going to bed that January night. The next thing that he remembers, according to the evidence at his DWI trial, is waking up in a magistrate’s office wearing his pajamas and pink slippers.

Prosecutors alleged that the man was driving a couple hours after he took the prescribed Ambien tablet and was in a car accident. The woman who was also in the crash says that the retired trooper told her a dreamlike tale about a strange investigation involving disguised cars, alcohol lights, helicopters and officers crashing into erratic drivers in some sort of crack down. The woman claims that the retired trooper showed his badge, but later said that he was retired.

The trooper was charged with impersonating an officer and DWI related to the alleged incident. Evidence was presented at trial Monday in Orange County District Court. The judge found the former trooper not guilty of impersonating an officer.

The judge found that the accused had duly admitted that he was retired and did not try to take advantage of his claim that he was an officer when he had displayed the badge. In acquitting the accused of the impersonation charge, the judge also said, “I believe the defendant was not in the state of mind to form criminal intent,” according to the Burlington Herald-Sun.

However, the judge did not acquit the defendant of the DWI charge. The judge reportedly reasoned that the defendant had not communicated with medical professionals about his codeine prescription when he obtained a later prescription for Ambien. The judge found the former trooper guilty of DWI related to the prescription medications.

The man was sentenced to a suspended 30 day jail term, with a fine, fees, court costs and community service. The man’s driver’s license was also taken, but he may be able to obtain limited driving privileges, according to the Herald-Sun.

Source: Burlington Herald-Sun, “Ex-trooper guilty of DWI,” Beth Velliquette, April 24, 2012

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Most Greenville residents know that North Carolina law prohibits drunk driving. But not all people may be aware that North Carolina DWI laws also prohibit impaired driving related to prescription medications. Recently, a Trinity woman was charged with DWI on allegations that her pain medication impaired her ability to drive.

North Carolina law enforcement officers claim the woman was first seen speeding on I-85. Troopers say they clocked the woman traveling 104 miles per hour on the Interstate around 12:15 last Tuesday. One of the troopers claims the woman nearly struck the trooper and several other cars. State Highway Patrol troopers also claim the woman eventually ran off the road and nearly struck a pole.

After all the allegations of nearly striking other objects, North Carolina troopers say the woman lost control of her Nissan 350Z, which spun out on the Interstate. State troopers say her vehicle wound up stopped in the southbound lane of I-85 facing toward the north. The Nissan reportedly showed no signs of damage and no accident occurred involving other vehicles, according to news reports. The Nissan was reportedly towed from the scene.

Troopers say the woman appeared confused after the alleged incident. Authorities claim the woman told officers that she was wearing a Fentanyl patch. Fentanyl is a prescription medication commonly used to treat chronic pain.

The 61-year-old woman was taken to Rowan Medical Center, where she apparently provided a blood sample. Law enforcement issued a citation later Tuesday, charging the woman with DWI and reckless driving.

Source: Salisbury Post, “Report: Woman went more than 100 mph while impaired,” Nathan Hardin, Nov. 2, 2011

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