Detroit bus driver accused of drunken driving

Police say bus was also involved in hit-and-run crash

DETROIT – A Detroit city bus driver was arrested early Wednesday morning on suspicion of drunken driving.

Police said the 53-year-old Detroit Department of Transportation bus driver hit a parked car on East Warren Avenue near Three Mile Drive around 11 p.m. The driver kept going.

A man and his son were on the bus at the time of the crash, but were not seriously hurt and were able to get off.

Officers from the Detroit Police Department and Wayne State University Police Department found the bus a short time later at Woodward and Warren avenues, nearly nine miles away from where the hit-and-run happened.

The driver was taken into custody and blew a .22 and .23 on Breathalyzer tests, which exceeds the state's threshold of 0.08 percent.

In Michigan, drivers with a 0.17 percent level are considered "super drunk."

Statement from DDOT Director Dan Dirks

We are deeply concerned over the alleged actions of one of our drivers last night. The safety of our passengers and the public is our highest priority. The driver was immediately suspended without pay pending further investigation and additional disciplinary action, up to and including termination.  His actions should in no way diminish the work of the dedicated DDOT drivers who come to work every day to serve the public.