School Bus Driver Accused Of Public Drunkenness At School Basketball Game

BEAVER COUNTY (KDKA) – A school bus driver faces public drunkenness charges and having an open container when he was scheduled to drive a Pittsburgh team back to the North Side after a school basketball game in Beaver County.

Tuesday night at Riverside High School in Ellwood City, the Riverside basketball team was taking on Perry Traditional Academy from Pittsburgh.

"During the boys' varsity basketball game, I had a gentleman approach me in general conversation, and at that point, I noticed he had alcohol on his breath," said North Sewickley Township Police Chief Jeff Becze.

Becze says the man, identified as 53-year-old Mark Munda, went back and forth talking with him and another officer who was also working the game.

"I asked the other officer, 'do you know who that guy is? He acts like he knows me, but I don't know who he is,'" Becze said. "He said, 'well he says he's the bus driver for the other team.' I said, 'well he's been drinking.'"

Becze and the other officer began looking for Munda, who has worked for Lenzner Coach Lines for about 4 years. They found him sitting on the bus. They asked if he had been drinking. Munda said, "No, that could affect my job." Then the officers found this.

"We noticed a gym bag next to the driver seat of the bus," Becze said. "There were two bottles of Pepsi, not completely full, and we checked those bottles and it appeared to be Pepsi mixed with some sort of alcohol."

Munda was told to call Lenzner to get another driver because he was not transporting the Perry team back to Pittsburgh.

In a statement, Lenzner wrote: "Another driver from the depot was immediately sent to relieve the accused driver to bring the group to their final destination. The accused employee has been terminated. Safety of our passengers and employees is our top priority."

"The bus company responded very quickly and promptly," Becze said. "They handled everything on our end very well."

Munda had planned to drive the Perry team back to Pittsburgh, and then return to Sewickley with the bus, but none of that happened.

Police say he was picked up at Riverside High School by his wife. Becze says he can't help but wonder if this has happened before and no one caught it.

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