Drunk NJ School Bus Driver Fled Crash With Students: Prosecutor

PATERSON, NJ - A North Jersey school bus driver was charged with endangering children and various motor vehicle offenses after fleeing from a crash while intoxicated with students in tow, authorities said.

Juan Gonzalez, 51, of Paterson, was charged Saturday with 42 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident, among other related charges, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik said in a joint statement.

The charges stem from a Friday incident at around 8:45 a.m. involving a hit-and-run motor vehicle crash involving a school bus transporting high school students to Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, Valdes and Berdnik said.

An investigation later found the bus crashed into a parked vehicle near McBride Avenue and Squirrelwood Road in Woodland Park. No injuries were reported to the children on board the bus at the time, officials said. Police later concluded that Gonzalez, the driver of the school bus, was under the influence at the time of the collision.

Each count of endangering the welfare of a child is five to 10 years in state prison. For the driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident charges, sentences run up to 30 days in county jail.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about the incident to contact the office at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Passaic County Sheriff Department Tip Line at 1-888-958-TIPS (8477).