Bus Driver Arrested For DWI in Bloomfield

A private school bus driver—with a can of beer between her legs—was arrested this afternoon while on her way to pick up developmentally disabled children at a Montclair school and was charged with driving while intoxicated.

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that sheriff’s detectives spotted a Hudson County Transport school bus run a red light at Bloomfield Avenue and Municipal Plaza in Bloomfield at 2:45 p.m. today and almost strike another vehicle.

Immediately, the school bus was pulled over and the sheriff’s officers detected the strong odor of alcohol.

Sheriff Fontoura said that when the driver, Elizabeth Anaya, age 62, of Jersey City opened the school bus door the officers spotted an empty bottle of rum in her jacket pocket and an open can of beer in between her legs.

Anaya failed a field sobriety test. A blood alcohol test was then administered it revealed that Anaya’s alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.

“It was most fortunate that our officers crossed paths with this individual,” Fontoura noted. “While the driver was the only person on the bus at the time of her arrest she was on her way to pick up children who suffer from autism. The potential consequences of these children being on her bus are truly frightening.”

The school bus was impounded and towed. Hudson County Transport, the owners of the bus, was notified and another bus was sent to Sawtelle Learning Center, located at 208 South Mountain Avenue in Montclair, to retrieve the youngsters.

Sawtelle Learning Center is a privately owned institution affiliated with Youth Consultation Service that provides educational services to children with autism and learning disabilities. No one answered the phone at Sawtelle late Thursday afternoon.

Anaya was charged with driving while intoxicated, running a red light and possession of an open alcohol container in a motor vehicle.

Hudson County Transport is a private bus company located in Jersey City.

The person answering the phone at Hudson County Transport said he was aware that one of their drivers was arrested today but said he could give out no further information.

He declined to confirm the name of the owner of the company as well.

Montclair residents have grown used to hearing about bus-related incidents in recent months.

In November, a bus carrying Montclair High School students to an outing in Hardwick, Warren County was involved in an accident that sent several students to the hospital with minor injuries.

Then, in March, a bus carrying Edgemont Elementary School students apparently lost its brakes while traveling up Berkeley Place near the intersection with North Mountain Avenue. The bus swerved back and forth down Berkeley Place, backwards, knocking a pole over, crashing into a car, and landing in the front yard of 19 Berkeley Place.