School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

School bus driver charged with DUI after crashing bus

Scott Poirier of Massachusetts crashed his bus into a telephone pole and was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated. He told police he didn’t drink any alcohol, but did take DayQuil and NyQuil.

February 16, 2016
2 min to read


DUDLEY, Mass. — A school bus driver here was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated after he crashed his school bus with students on board on Thursday.

At approximately 3 p.m., police and fire and emergency medical personnel responded to a school bus crash, according to the Dudley Police Department. Upon arrival, officers observed a school bus in the eastbound travel lane with wires from a utility pole lying across its roof. The bus was on its afternoon drop-off route, and there were 11 students on board at the time. No one was injured.

During conversation and interaction with bus driver Scott Poirier, officers suspected that Poirier may have been under the influence of alcohol. After the officers conducted field sobriety tests, they believed Poirier was operating under the influence, and he was placed under arrest. He was found to be nearly two times over the legal limit when he crashed the bus, according to CBS Boston.

The students were transported home by a second bus shortly after the accident.

Poirier appeared in court on Friday, facing charges of operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and child endangerment while operating under the influence. Prosecutors said that Poirier was drunk when he lost control of the bus and hit the telephone pole, causing wires to fall on top of the bus, CBS Boston reports. They added that police officers saw Poirier fall down the bus steps before trying to compose himself, and that he told police he hadn’t drunk any alcohol but had taken DayQuil and NyQuil earlier that day, according to the news source.

A judge ordered Poirier to stay away from kids and alcohol, and he was released and placed under house arrest, according to the news source. He has been suspended by his employer, First Student, while the crash is under investigation, CBS Boston reports.

More Safety

Geotab fleet safety platform showing driver coaching data and video of driving events alongside a Geotab vehicle camera.
Technologyby News/Media ReleaseSeptember 17, 2026

Geotab Expands Fleet Safety Tools With Video Coaching, Risk Insights

New safety and video capabilities aim to help fleet managers assess risk, support drivers, and take targeted action through video coaching, red-light violation detection, and more.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet’s The Route graphic featuring two people alongside the text, “The Secret to Better Bus Driver Training (It’s Not the Curriculum),” sponsored by IC Bus.
Sponsoredby Amanda HuggettSeptember 15, 2026

How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program

Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.

Read More →
Graphic showing a yellow school bus behind a shattered-glass effect with the text, “Fatal Accident in a Bus Lot & Students Struck Near Bus Stops, Sept. 8–9, 2026.”
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 13, 2026

Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured

Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A female school bus driver in bus driver's seat speaking on radio with an inset of female with headphones looking at two monitors and buses in the background
SponsoredSeptember 8, 2026

When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving

From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.

Read More →
Firefighters spray water on a smoking Marietta City Schools school bus during a fire response drill.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettSeptember 8, 2026

What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help

School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.

Read More →
Graphic promoting Geotab’s new fleet investigation tool, featuring a screenshot of the MyGeotab platform showing an incident timeline, vehicle activity, and mapped route data.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseSeptember 1, 2026

Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents

Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Student-created poster titled “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” shows a yellow school bus at a crosswalk, students waiting nearby, and school bus safety reminders about stopping, school zones, safe pickup and drop-off, and buckling up.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseAugust 31, 2026

Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest

Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.

Read More →
Cover of a Pro-Vision whitepaper titled “Doing More With Less: A Transportation Director’s Guide to Managing Safety Budget Uncertainty,” featuring school buses, a school transportation scene, and safety technology imagery.
SponsoredAugust 27, 2026

Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty

With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.

Read More →
A Gatekeeper Systems camera mounted on the side of a school bus.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 26, 2026

Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System

The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Avigilon camera installation at Hamilton Township School District, New Jersey, with text reading "How to Build a More Secure School Bus Yard."
Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 25, 2026

How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours

As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.

Read More →