A woman in Chisago County was arrested for driving while intoxicated after police responded to a call about a school bus being stuck in a farmer’s field.
According to court documents, a property owner in Rush City called to reported that a bus was stuck in their cornfield and pinned against a basketball court. When police arrived, they found 59-year-old Kara Jean French behind the wheel. Police also noted “a moderate odor of alcoholic beverage” coming from French. She exited the school bus carrying an insulated coffee mug and a plastic water bottle, and police said that upon closer inspection, the coffee mug smelled like a mixture of coffee and an alcoholic beverage.
45 Students Onboard
The school bus that French was driving at the time of the incident was carry 45 students, with most being “elementary age, and under the age of 16,” according to the deputy who wrote the report. Thankfully, none of the students were injured in the accident.
When asked what happened, French allegedly said that her “foot did not find the brake,” when she was approaching an area where she typically turns around during her route. She also said that she hadn’t consumed alcohol in days, but she failed a field sobriety test and blew a 0.199 – more than twice the legal limit – when given a breathalyzer. She was officially charged with two gross misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated. Both charges carry potential sentences of up to 364 days in jail and fines up to $3,000.
Needless to say, French is in some significant legal trouble here, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she ended up spending some time in jail considering how her actions put the lives of so many kids in danger. Hopefully she gets the help she needs to navigate her legal situation and to get her life back on track, because she clearly made a very poor decision that could have impacted the lives of many.
If you find yourself in need of legal assistance after a DWI or similar traffic issue, pick up the phone and call the team at Appelman Law Firm today. We answer our phones 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, call us at (952) 224-2277.
