Crime

Mass. school van driver charged with driving drunk with children on board

Police said Rebecca Shing, 34, was swerving in and out of lanes while she was driving four children and one 18-year-old on Tuesday afternoon.

October 30, 2024

1 minute to read

A school bus driver was arrested in New Bedford Tuesday for allegedly driving a school van while under the influence of alcohol, authorities said.

State Police pulled over Rebecca Shing, of Somerset, around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, court records show. A statement of facts filed in court said a passerby allegedly saw the van drift in and out of the meridian and breakdown lanes several times while it was traveling southbound on Route 140.

Police said the van was pulled over by the time they arrived and Shing was standing outside the vehicle. Five passengers were inside the van, one 18-year-old student and four children, according to the statement. Transportation service H & L Bloom, which employs Shing according to her LinkedIn, did not respond to requests for comment.

Shing allegedly had glassy and bloodshot eyes, was unable to stand on her feet, and had “a strong smell of alcohol on her breath,” according to police. Police said Shing told officers she had taken one and a half doses of Suboxone, a medicine used to treat opium addiction, earlier that day.

Troopers administered three different field sobriety tests, according to court records, all of which Shing allegedly failed. After the tests, Shing submitted a breath test, which officers said registered at 0.15, over the legal limit of 0.8.

Shing is charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, violating marked lanes, and endangering children while operating under the influence.

Representation for Shing entered a not guilty plea in court on Wednesday. Court records show Shing did not post bail and is being held at Bristol County House of Correction. Lawyers for Shing did not immediately reply to a request for comment.