Community Corner
Bus Driver With Scouts Had BAC 3X+ Legal Limit, Beer Bottle: DA
"She is sorry," attorney says. The woman crashed the bus 2X when driving while intoxicated with 10 Cub Scouts aboard, DA Tim Sini says.
BAITING HOLLOW, NY — A woman charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of two crashes had 10 Cub Scouts from the Baiting Hollow Scout Camp aboard her bus, a blood alcohol content of .30 percent, more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent — and an empty beer bottle beside her seat, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.
Diane Juergens, 61, of Ridge was indicted Tuesday on 38 counts including aggravated driving while intoxicated, a felony; two counts of driving while intoxicated, a felony; 20 counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated, Leandra's Law, a felony; three counts of driving while intoxicated, misdemeanors; 10 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, misdemeanors; and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, violations, Sini said.
If convicted of the top count, Juergens faces two and one-third to seven years in prison, Sini said. She has no prior criminal history, he said.
According to Assistant District Attorney Kim Carson, on July 13 at 4:37 p.m., Juergens arrived at the eastern entrance to the Baiting Hollow Scout camp on Sound Avenue in Calverton. In June, the dedication of a new lodge was held at the camp in honor of Andrew McMorris, 12, who was killed by a drunken driver, Sini said.
"The irony doesn't get much thicker," Sini said.