'A shocker for everyone': Driver of bus with 52 kids aboard charged with impaired driving

Dan Zakreski · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 25, 2025 2:58 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 minutes ago

The operator of a chartered autobus with 52 children aboard arsenic been accused of impaired driving by Saskatoon police.

In an email, constabulary said they were called to the country adjacent Highway 16 and 71st Street astir 6 p.m. CST connected March 14 aft getting a study of an impaired operator operating a chartered bus.

"Upon arrival, officers observed the autobus stopped connected the roadside and located the driver, believed to beryllium nether the power of an intoxicant, successful the backmost spot of a idiosyncratic conveyance that had been travelling down the bus," constabulary spokesperson Joshua Grella wrote successful an email.

Stacey Petreman, who owns Prince Albert Northern Bus Lines, said successful an interrogation that a rider connected the autobus had called him, acrophobic that the operator was perchance impaired.

"I contacted the constabulary to woody with situation," helium said. "This was a shocker for everyone."

He said the driver, who was fired aft the incident, had driven for the institution for astir a decennary and had a cleanable record. 

Richard Arthur Potratz, 70, has been charged with impaired driving and having a humor intoxicant level supra the ineligible limit. He is to look successful Saskatoon provincial tribunal connected April 28.