A commercial bus driver is facing charges in after being caught driving while intoxicated with a load of passengers, West Vancouver police say.
The incident happened on Aug. 5, according to a release from Const. Nicole Braithwaite, West Vancouver Police Department spokesperson.
The driver had 35 passengers on board travelling from Whistler to Vancouver. Around 9:30 p.m., one of the passengers called police when they noticed the driver appeared to be intoxicated and driving erratically.
West Van officers pulled the bus over on the Upper Levels Highway just outside Horseshoe Bay and took the driver into custody for a breathalyzer test, which confirmed the passenger’s suspicions.
The coach company sent another driver to the bus to get the passengers safely back on the road.
On Oct. 26, the Crown swore two charges against Craig Randle, a 65-year-old man from Delta.
He is facing one count of impaired driving and one count of operating a vehicle while over .08 blood alcohol level.
Randle made his first court appearance on Nov. 2 and is due back in North Vancouver provincial court later this month.
“The West Vancouver Police continue targeted enforcement against impaired drivers” Braithwaite said in a release. “In this case, we are fortunate that an alert citizen notified us to this serious public safety risk. That, combined with the quick action of our officers, resulted in the bus being stopped before a serious incident could occur”.
Anyone who witnesses or suspects someone of driving while impaired, should call 911 immediately, Braithwaite added.
