Ontario school bus driver charged with stunt driving with children on board

The driver of a school bus with kids on board is facing stunt driving charges after being caught speeding nearly twice the legal limit, say provincial police.

Ontario Provincial Police in Upper Ottawa Valley say a 54-year-old school bus driver has been charged after being clocked doing 106 km/h in a 60 km/h zone on Tuesday afternoon.

Children were on the school bus at the time of the incident, said the OPP, and alternative transportation was arranged for the students after the driver was stopped.

Police say the incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, on Micksburg Road in Laurentian Valley Township, about 1.5 hours west of Ottawa.

The driver has been charged with racing a motor vehicle-excessive speed, and speeding over 1-49 km/hr over the posted limit, said police.

The driver's licence has also been suspended for 30 days, and the school bus was towed and impounded for 14 days.

In July 2021 the threshold for stunt driving was lowered. Drivers caught speeding in excess of 40 kilometres per hour in a speed zone of 80 kilometres per hour or less can be charged," the OPP told the Star in an email.

The driver was scheduled to appear at the Ontario Provincial Offences Court in Pembroke.

Dorcas Marfo is a reporter for the Star's radio room based in Toronto. Reach Dorcas via email: dmarfo@thestar.ca