Colleen M. Eutermarks, a former school bus driver from Sussex County, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for driving under the influence while transporting 27 students. Eutermarks was pulled over by New Jersey State Police on January 28, 2022, after witnesses reported her erratic driving. A breath sample revealed her blood-alcohol content was .34, over eight times the legal limit for commercial drivers. An almost-empty vodka bottle was found in her purse.
Eutermarks was convicted on 27 counts of second-degree child endangerment, one for each student she transported while intoxicated. In addition to her prison sentence, she has been given a lifetime forfeiture of her commercial driver's license.
"The sentence of the court clearly held Ms. Eutermarks accountable for her terrible decision making," said acting Sussex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray. "It also sent a strong message that there are serious criminal consequences of operating a school bus while under the influence, which are far beyond the consequences of a driving while intoxicated charge."
Eutermarks' attorney has not yet commented on the sentence.