harrisonsdream
05-24-2007, 01:09 PM
Chicago school bus driver allegedly drank before deadly wreck
Associated Press
CHICAGO — A bus driver took children to school after drinking whiskey, then had a six-pack of beer and caused a deadly crash, prosecutors said.
Jerry Moncrease's blood alcohol level was 0.225, nearly three times Illinois' 0.08 legal limit, at the time of Monday's crash, Assistant State's Attorney Bonnie Greenstein said at a Wednesday court hearing.
The bus driven by Moncrease, 70, slammed into a sport utility vehicle at an intersection, causing a chain reaction that killed Antoine Bolden, 22. No students were on the bus at the time.
Moncrease was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence.
Moncrease, who works for contractor Bryden Transportation Co., has had a clean driving record and a commercial driver's license since 2002, said secretary of state's office spokeswoman Beth Kaufman.
It was unclear Thursday morning if Moncrease had an attorney, and no telephone listing for a Jerry Moncrease could be found.
Greenstein said Moncrease admitted that before leaving for work at about 5 a.m. he had two or three double shots of Canadian Club liquor. He picked up the special-needs children an hour later, dropped them off at school and went home and had six cans of Miller High Life before the wreck, Greenstein said.
A spokesman at Bryden offices in Chicago did not return a message seeking comment early Thursday.
Chicago Public Schools was considering pulling Bryden's contract, spokesman Michael Vaughn said.
Associated Press
CHICAGO — A bus driver took children to school after drinking whiskey, then had a six-pack of beer and caused a deadly crash, prosecutors said.
Jerry Moncrease's blood alcohol level was 0.225, nearly three times Illinois' 0.08 legal limit, at the time of Monday's crash, Assistant State's Attorney Bonnie Greenstein said at a Wednesday court hearing.
The bus driven by Moncrease, 70, slammed into a sport utility vehicle at an intersection, causing a chain reaction that killed Antoine Bolden, 22. No students were on the bus at the time.
Moncrease was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence.
Moncrease, who works for contractor Bryden Transportation Co., has had a clean driving record and a commercial driver's license since 2002, said secretary of state's office spokeswoman Beth Kaufman.
It was unclear Thursday morning if Moncrease had an attorney, and no telephone listing for a Jerry Moncrease could be found.
Greenstein said Moncrease admitted that before leaving for work at about 5 a.m. he had two or three double shots of Canadian Club liquor. He picked up the special-needs children an hour later, dropped them off at school and went home and had six cans of Miller High Life before the wreck, Greenstein said.
A spokesman at Bryden offices in Chicago did not return a message seeking comment early Thursday.
Chicago Public Schools was considering pulling Bryden's contract, spokesman Michael Vaughn said.