Wrecked Bus Driver Needed Narcan To Wake Up
Most people when they hear the term. DWI, they think of someone who gets behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. Few people realize that such DWI or DUI laws also apply to those who are driving while under the influence of illicit, prescription, or over the counter drugs as well.
The Chron.com website recently reported about one school bus driver in Newark New Jersey who is facing serious consequences after she had to be revived by authorities with Narcan (naloxone) after she crashed her school bus carrying students into a tree last week.
Officials say that the accident happened near the Fourteenth Avenue Elementary School in Newark on Wednesday, February 20th at approximately 1:10 p.m. when the school bus driver, Lisa Byrd, 57, of East Orange, New Jersey crashed the bus into a tree at the corner of 14th and Jones Street. Her bus was carrying 12 special needs students ranging in age from 5 – 13.
Police officers responding to the call found Byrd slumped over the steering wheel of the bus. Initially emergency crews thought that she may have suffered a stroke. Upon closer examination, officers found a bag of heroin clutched in Byrd’s hand and administered Narcan to Byrd in order to revive her.
She was taken to an area hospital for treatment. She is currently facing 12 counts of child endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia and DWI.