Newark Public Safety Director Ambrose provided an update on the arrest of a school bus driver today following a collision at 14th Avenue and Jones Street today.
Police said the school bus driver, Ms. Lisa Byrd, 57, of East Orange, has been taken into custody and charged with 12 counts of Endangering the Welfare of children among several other charges that are pending from the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to police, at around 1 p.m., Byrd allegedly overdosed on heroin while she operated a school bus owned by F&A Transport of East Orange with 11 children onboard coming from the 14th Avenue School.
Police say Byrd went unconscious then struck a tree at the intersection of Jones and 14th Avenue.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene and revived Byrd with Narcan before transporting her to University Hospital for treatment where she was then placed under arrest according to Newark Police.
Newark Police officials said Byrd’s drivers license had been suspended about a dozen times from.1996 through 2006.
None of the children on board the bus suffered any injuries.
The incident remains under investigation.