DETROIT (WWJ) -- A Detroit Department of Transportation driver is on unpaid leave after crashing a bus on the east side Friday morning, while possibly under the influence of alcohol.
WWJ's Charlie Langton reported the driver was making a Michigan left turn along Moross and Mack Ave., when the bus went off the road, over a curb and hit some trees.
While there were passengers on the bus at the time of the crash, at around 8:20 a.m., thankfully no one was seriously injured, DDOT said.
The driver was immediately taken off the job and was tested for drugs and alcohol. In an afternoon news release, DDOT said that the driver did fail a breath alcohol test.
DDOT did not disclose the reading on the test, but did share that federal protocols for transit equipment operators set a lower breath alcohol limit than the State of Michigan limit for motor vehicle operators in general.
DDOT said the driver has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, pending further investigation of this incident.
“As I have said since my first day on the job, safer service and more reliable service are DDOT’s top two priorities,” said Interim Executive Director Michael Staley. “Violations of DDOT’s drug and alcohol policy will be treated with the utmost urgency and seriousness, and the Department will take appropriate action based on the results of the investigation in this case. DDOT bus drivers provide a vital public service to the community, and we will continue our full-court-press to improve safety and service."
Langton noted that roads in the area were slick due to weather conditions at the time of the crash.
The driver's name was not released.