Bus Driver Arrested For DUI During Band Trip To Tennessee
COAL CENTER (KDKA) -- A tour bus driver for the California Area High School band was arrested last week during the band's trip to Tennessee.
Allen Newcomer, 51, of Smock, has been charged with driving under the influence, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.
But the owners of the bus company say Newcomer is one of their top five drivers, and what happened last week in Tennessee was unfair and unfortunate.
"I feel very bad about the whole incident," said Gary Shimshock, the owner of Budget Charters. "I hope this comes out to light that Mr. Newcomer is cleared of any wrongdoing and we just move on in life."
Newcomer was arrested last Thursday in Nashville.
At the time, he was parked in front of a museum, waiting for his 55 passengers, including nearly 40 California Area High School students.
Newcomer says that's where he had a problem with one of the tires.
"He claimed it was out of service criteria," said Shimshock. "Somebody caught a curb with it."
The officer at the scene also said that Newcomer had a powdery, white substance in his nostrils, and had pill bottles in his possession.
"We had our own independent lab testing Mr. Newcomer, all those results came back negative," said Shimshock. "He just said that he was never so embarrassed and all of his life."
According to criminal records, Newcomer has two prior convictions for driving under the influence in Washington County, one in 1999 and another in 2001.
"Everybody screws up once in their life, and that was 15-plus years ago," said Shimshock. "We decided to give him another chance."
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Budget Charters has been operation since 2005. The owner says they've had 11 years and one bad day.
"Since his employment, he has had a stellar record," said Shimshock. "We are not aware of any other incident with him other than this one. We deeply regret any distress that it caused on the group that he was hauling that day."
The driver was released from a Tennessee jail after the bus company owner paid his bail. He is back in Fayette County now.
The owners of Budget Charters say the company has not lost business because of what happened in Tennessee.
