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The driver of a Rush City school bus carrying 49 students, which went off the road about 8:30 a.m. Thursday Feb 15, has been charged. Kara Ffrench, 59, of Harris, was in court Friday, February 16 to face two gross misdemeanors, one alleging DWI commercial vehicle and DWI driving school bus. Her next court appearance date is in mid-May.

A property owner of the field where the bus came to a halt called 911 about 8:30 a.m.  reporting the bus had been using a turnaround at Game Avenue and Tiger Trail in Rush City and had been driven off the roadway surface into a cornfield striking a basketball hoop pole. A property camera videotaped the incident.

Sheriff personnel were at the scene immediately and saw to it that students were unharmed and able to board a replacement Rush City School District bus and be delivered for their classes.  

The complaint states that  Ffrench was administered  tests (field sobriety and portable breath) while observed by deputies at the scene.  The criminal complaint notes the odor of an alchoholic beverage was detected in a coffee container that the bus driver carried. 

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