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Woman Charged with DUI After Crashing into Pinellas School Bus
February 24, 2011
by K. McKinney
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Hudson woman last week after her car rear-ended a Pinellas County school bus. The collision occurred at State Road 580 and Virginia Street in Dunedin at about 8:15 a.m. Donna Jones was arrest and charged with driving under the influence.
No children on the bus were injured. The bus was heading to Garrison Jones Elementary School in Dunedin.
Jones told deputies she had consumed prescription drugs, according to the sheriff’s office. In addition to the driving under the influence charge, she also faces charges for open container, no proof of insurance and careless driving.
While she was being booked at the Pinellas County Jail, Jones was allegedly found to have a hidden crack pipe in her clothing. She was then also charged with introduction of contraband into a secure facility.
It is unclear from initial reports whether deputies suspect Jones of being intoxicated by alcohol or under the influence of drugs. She reportedly told officers about prescription drugs and she was charged with having an open alcohol container in the vehicle.
In addition to prohibiting driving when impaired due to alcohol, Florida law establishes that someone is guilty of the crime of DUI if they are driving while under the influence of a controlled substance when affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired.
Unless Jones has previous DUI convictions, all of her pending charges appear to be misdemeanors.