Bolt Bus Driver Arrested for Allegedly Drunk Driving Full Bus

Mar. 11, 2011

By Brandon Scott Gorrell info

Brandon Scott Gorrell is a writer and editor living in Brooklyn, NY.

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Bolt Bus pulled over by state trooper
via Tao Lin

This just in from a TC tipster – a Bolt Bus headed from NYC to DC just got pulled over, and the police proceeded to arrest the driver for drunk driving!

Our informant was on the 1:45 p.m. Bolt Bus from NYC to the Baltimore/ DC area when, at around 3:50 p.m., the cops pulled the coach over between exit 4 and exit 5 on the New Jersey Turnpike. A passenger on the bus had apparently called 9-11 to inform the police that the driver was suspected of being intoxicated.

As the state trooper pulled the bus over, the driver hurriedly put on his seatbelt. “Can you tell me my infraction, sir?” the driver said when the trooper reached his window. “Which one?” the trooper said, going on to tell the driver that he was going 15 over the speed limit, tailgating, and driving in the wrong lane. The officer proceeded to ask the driver to exit the bus, then give the driver repeated sobriety tests, and at around 4:10 p.m., escorted him away from the bus in handcuffs.

Second driver and arresting officer speak to those stranded

One passenger on the bus reported having seen a flask while others made quips about it being happy hour. Others said that they’ve complained about this driver before. All the passengers have been told that they will receive a refund. As of 5:20 p.m. eight of the fifty-two passengers have been moved to another Boltbus. The other forty-four are still waiting for another bus to arrive – hopefully with a driver that’s not drunk.

The arresting officer said this was the second drunk-driving bus-driver he had arrested this week and that both drivers would never be able to drive a bus again, though they would likely only lose their normal license for one year or so.

When we asked Bolt Bus for comment, they responded that they’re “conducting a full internal investigation of this matter.” Hope you guys get this all cleared up, Bolt Bus. TC mark

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Images/video via Tao Lin

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  • PERFECTCIRCLES

    I'm on that bus. Can someone please come get me?

    I haven't been drinking, and am seriously considering driving it the rest of the way.

  • http://tomhankssuperfan.blogspot.com megan boyle

    TC tipsterrunnoff.com…hehe…

    comprehensive coverage, good job

  • http://somuchtocome.blogspot.com Aja

    My sister swore up and down her driver for the Bolt bus (NYC to DC) was drunk two months ago. We thought she was being dramatic . . .

  • http://heheheheheheheeheheheehehe.com/ tao

    if bsg doesn't win the pulitzer prize in journalism this year…

  • Flair

    i will drink and drive tonight in honor of this falling,swerving hero

  • Flair

    i will play poker tonight and have something to talk about rather than repeatedly saying raise, call, fold, all in, check, etc,etc

  • Jody Fossler

    THE NEWS

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Parker-Baldin/516709205 Parker Baldin

    this is too funny. i like how tao is in an nbc philidelphia article as a passenger who tweeted.

  • Tommmmmm

    try contacting the CEO by email.

  • http://www.smokingonanemptystomach.blogspot.com Jordan
  • http://www.smokingonanemptystomach.blogspot.com Jordan

    ifbsgdoesn'twinthepulitzerprizeinjournalismthisyear….com

  • Mci mci

    Eye opener. Has anyone thought about how this driver picked up the bus from this depot from dispatchers and all others around half drunk and proceeded on to pick up and transport passengers? What does that tell you about the work environment at that company? Believe me he is not the first and he will not be the last. He obviously felt comfortable enough because of his company's lack of rules.

  • PERFECTCIRCLES

    Bolt Bus can sell cheap tickets because it's an awful company that doesn't give a shit about anything.

  • SLAPPY

    LOVE Bolt! Last week, I saw Larry King while I was in line at Penn Station. Then the driver sang in Creole for the last 40 minutes of the trip into Boston.

  • MAHMOUD

    BRANDON YOU ARE REAL GENTLE MAN. THANK FOR THIS ARTICLE: NOT GIRLSPEAK BULLSHIT ON YOUR THOUGHT CATALOG?=

    THANKS,
    MAHMOUD.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1363230138 Michael Koh

    Tao Lin was on this was he not?

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