Somers School District Bus Driver charged with DWI while transporting children

On December 18, 2019, the New York State Police from the Somers barracks arrested William J. Mendez, age 61, of Somers, for Aggravated DWI Leandra’s Law, a class E felony.
 
On December 09, 2019, Troopers responded to assist emergency medical service personnel at the Somers Central School District School bus garage for reports of a possible stroke.  The School District had been notified by a parent that a bus driver William Mendez was acting strange.  The Somers Central School District Director of Transportation immediately called Royal Coach Lines Somers Dispatch to have the driver cease operations and drove to the bus's location, where he was met by two Royal Coach employees.  Mendez was relieved of his duties, and later transported to Northern Westchester Hospital for evaluation by Somers Volunteer Fire Department Ambulance Corp.
 
The State Police then began investigating the incident with the cooperation of the Somers Central School District.  With assistance of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office a search warrant was signed by the town of Somers Court to obtain a biological sample from Mendez.  Lab analysis was completed and revealed Mendez’s blood alcohol content was 0.22%.  Mendez was subsequently arrested for operating a school bus with children under sixteen-years-old on board while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. 
 
Mendez was arraigned before the town of Somers Court, and released on his own recognizance to reappear before the Court on January 6, 2019, at 5:30 p.m.
 

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Submitted by Somers, NY

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