Utica schools bus driver faces drunken driving charge, 17 misdemeanor counts
Woman arraigned a week after the Hall Road crash
A Utica Community Schools bus driver was arraigned Tuesday with drunken driving and 16 counts of drunken driving with an occupant under age 16 for an incident last week in Sterling Heights.
Nichole Dillard, 48, of Sterling Heights, was taken to the Macomb County Jail after visiting Judge Michael Maceroni of 41A District Court in Sterling Heights set a $50,000 bond, 10%, based on arguments from her defense attorney and an assistant Macomb County prosecutor, who asked for a $100,000 cash bond.
“The defendant in her behavior showed a lack of regard for the safety of the people in her charge as well as other people on the road with her,” Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Hall told the judge. “I think … it does require a large bond, and I think a $100,000 bond would be sufficient to be a deterrent to commit other acts such as this while on bond.”
Dillard’s attorney, John Brusstar, countered by calling the incident “a minor accident,” and there were no injuries, although injuries were later reported.
Brusstar said Dillard has no criminal history, turned herself in to police, has enrolled in an outpatient substance-abuse program and has family support. Her
husband attended the hearing, and she has two adult children, he noted.
In addition, she is the primary caregiver for her mother, who is in need of constant care, he said.
“She is not a risk to the community,” Brusstar said. “She is not driving a bus any longer.”
Hall retorted: “This could’ve quickly turned from a misdemeanor to a 15-year felony, drunk driving causing death.”
Maceroni set the bond after commenting, “There’s good arguments on both sides.”
If she posts $5,000 and is released, she must wear an alcohol tether and cannot drive as a commercial driver, the judge said.
Each of the two charges carry a maximum penalty
of one year in jail. The 16 counts of the drunk driving with an occupant under 16 represents the number of passengers who met that age requirement.
Dillard during the hearing wore a mask and attempted to hide her face.
The crash occurred the afternoon of Dec. 14 when the bus, which was carrying 30 to 40 students from Henry Ford II High School, went off Hall Road near Schoenherr Road and struck a street sign, causing minor damage to the bus.
Dillard’s blood-alcohol level was .10. For a commercial license holder, the level of legal intoxication is .04%.
Initial reports indicated no injuries to children. But the day after the crash, it was learned some students sought medical treatment.