North Carolina State Highway Patrol Reports
In reference to a careless and reckless driving complaint involving a Catawba County school bus driver, which occurred on Catawba Burris Road in Lincoln County on Wednesday, December 6th at approximately 4:30 p.m.
The NC State Highway Patrol arrested Nelson Gonzalez, 54, of Sherrills Ford, NC, at the scene. Gonzalez was charged with driving while impaired, commercial vehicle driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, and misdemeanor child abuse. The school bus was being operated from Sherrills Ford Elementary School. No students were being transported on the bus at the time of the arrest. A $2,000.00 secured bond was set following the arrest.
The NC State Highway Patrol administered standardized field sobriety test at the scene prior to the arrest. Based on those tests, Mr. Gonzalez was transported to the Lincoln County Intoxilyzer. He was determined to have a blood alcohol content of .23. North Carolina law states it is illegal to operate a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.
By WBTV Web Staff
Published: Dec. 7, 2023 at 12:42 PM EST
CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) – A Catawba County school bus driver has been arrested for allegedly driving students home while impaired, officials said.
Troopers received a careless and reckless driving complaint involving the bus driver on Wednesday, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Nelson Gonzalez, 54, of Sherrills Ford, was arrested at the scene, troopers said. He was charged with driving while impaired, commercial vehicle driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving and misdemeanor child abuse.
Gonzalez was determined to have a blood alcohol content of 0.23, which is almost three times above the legal limit in North Carolina, according to the highway patrol.
The bus driver was transporting students from Sherrills Ford Elementary School and there were 35 students onboard the afternoon route, according to information from Catawba County Schools.
All students had been safely dropped off at home before intervention by law enforcement, district officials said.
They added the driver, who was employed by the district on Nov. 13 as a 10-month custodian and bus driver for Sherrills Ford Elementary, was suspended without pay pending the completion of the investigation.
According to the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, an investigation has been initiated by the department concerning Gonzalez operating a school bus with students aboard while impaired. Multiple charges of child abuse are pending, deputies said.
Salt Stories: 100th Anniversary / Arts & Science Center
City Of Hickory: Facebook / 12/07/2023
To commemorate the remarkable 100-year legacy of the Arts & Science Center, the SALT Block Foundation is releasing a series of SALT Stories featuring community advocates. These stories reflect a century of creativity, innovation, and human connection through captivating narratives highlighting the transformation from the building’s inception as Claremont High School to its present-day glory.
Watch the first four interviews:
https://www.saltblockfoundation.org/salt-stories
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