Two breath tests, and physical evidence, have been cited in the DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges brought against a tour bus driver, after an accident left a pedestrian dead, as reported by the New York Times and other news media.
Police stated that the accident, occurring at approximately 10 p.m. on May 7, killed a pedestrian on a West Side street.
The driver of the tour bus, S.D., 57, was administered two breath tests, according to law enforcement personnel, that showed that he had been drinking.
A second law enforcement official stated that they found a 1.7 liter bottle of vodka on S.D. when they arrived at the scene.
Both of the two officials spoke on the condition of anonymity as the investigation is ongoing.
Per K.L., the safety manager for the tour bus company, L & L Travel in Chinatown, said that before the accident S.D. was just completing a three-hour tour of Manhattan that including shuttling approximately 40 tourists through South Street Seaport, Rockefeller Center and Times Square. They were next headed to Newark-area hotels as that was where most of the travelers were staying the night.
T.W., 29, the pedestrian killed, was attempting to cross Ninth Avenue when the bus struck him. The bus was making a left turn onto Ninth, per police, from 47
th Street.
A law enforcement official stated that the rear end of the bus struck T.W. as it completed making the turn. T.W. was then caught by the bus’ rear wheels and dragged several dozen feet before another pedestrian chased after the bus and alerted S.D.
S.D. then stopped the bus.
When police arrived at the scene they found T.W. unconscious. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center and pronounced dead.
S.D. has been charged and held for DUI and manslaughter.
The bus company, TraveLynx, based in Cocoa, Fla., was contacted for a comment but could not be reached.
L & L routinely used TraveLynx for busses and drivers. K.L. said that TraveLynx drivers were available in New York and were more experienced with long interstate drives.
According to federal Transportation Department records the bus company has 67 drivers and 62 buses and vans. There is one other record in which one of their drivers was involved in a fatal crash that occurred in Florida.
K.L. said that they contracted their drivers from the company as they had “a very good reputation and the driver was very polite.” K.L. added to the victim’s family, “We deeply apologize to the family.”
Fifteen people were killed in March while traveling in a bus through Interstate 95 in the Bronx. The bus was coming from the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn. when it flipped onto its side and drove into a stanchion.
This prior accident has already put a negative light on New York bus companies.
If you have been charged with DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI, contact a DUI attorney from our directory to help you with your defense. Fines and jail time are often weighed against your driving record and any criminal history.