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Markham school bus driver charged with refusing breathalyzer following collision with students on board

Click to play video: 'York region students talk after school bus driver charged in connection with alcohol-related crash'
York region students talk after school bus driver charged in connection with alcohol-related crash
WATCH ABOVE: Markham students said they were shocked to hear their school bus driver was charged after a minor collision. Students say the bus driver was driving erratically before the crash happened. Tom Hayes reports – Aug 30, 2017

York Regional Police say a 54-year-old school bus driver has been charged with refusing a breath sample after the bus collided with another vehicle in Markham on Tuesday.

No one was injured, but police say at least 20 students from Bill Crothers Secondary School were on board at the time.

Police said they received a call before 4 p.m. for a collision near Enterprise Boulevard and Warden Avenue. The other driver told police that the school bus “struck her car then kept bumping into it,” police said.

“Thankfully, no one was injured in the collision, however, when officers began speaking with the driver of the school bus they observed signs of impairment by alcohol and she was subsequently placed under arrest,” Const. Andy Pattenden said.

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She later refused a breath test at a police station, according to police.

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A 54-year-old woman from Georgina, which police did not identify, has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle and refusing a breath sample. If convicted, the charge carries the same penalties as impaired driving.

A spokesperson for the school bus operator, Stock Transportation, said the driver was fired immediately and will be ineligible for hire in the future.

“The safety of the students we transport is our top priority,” the company stated. “Without exception, our drivers are required to abide by our company drug and alcohol policy.”

With files from Danny Longo, AM640

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