Wake County schools bus driver arrested for drunk driving apologetic after release from jail

A Wake County school bus driver was arrested on Friday afternoon after hitting a construction worker while driving with a blood alcohol level five times the legal limit for commercial drivers.

Donald Eli, 60, who has been driving children for almost 20 years, was charged with driving a commercial vehicle while impaired, as well as consuming alcohol on a school bus.

Fortunately, no children were on the bus at the time.

Eli failed to yield to a construction worker directing traffic near the Village District in Raleigh, instead ramming into his legs and knocking him to the ground

He told police he didn't realize he hit someone.

On May 26, Eli resigned from his position as a bus driver, according to the Wake County Public School System. Eli had worked as a bus driver since July 2019, the district said.

Wake County Public Schools issued a statement, saying in part, "Eli has been removed from all driving duties and is currently suspended from employment pending investigation.”

WRAL News spoke to Eli shortly after he bonded out of jail Friday afternoon. He said he was very upset by his actions and said he still doesn’t remember much of what happened Thursday morning.

Eli said he had just left a nearby high school and ended up in a construction site. All of a sudden, he said, everyone started screaming.

Carl Reinhart, 32, was wearing a reflective vest and holding a stop sign while directing traffic around 10:30 a.m. He noticed the school bus rounding the corner. Reinhart says the bus slowed down at first, and he thought it was going to stop, but then it accelerated, hitting him.

Larry Reinhart, his dad, rushed over to confront the school bus driver who hit his son in the legs, knocking him to the ground.

"That’s when I went up talk to the driver," he said. "Just like, 'What are you doing? What were you thinking?'"

Immediately, he wondered about the safety of children -- who could either potentially be on board, or be waiting to be picked up by the driver.

"I asked, ‘Were you driving kids today?’" said Larry Reinhart. "And he said, 'Yeah.'"

No children were on the bus at the time, but Larry Reinhart said something seemed off about the driver. He said he noticed the driver's eyes glassed over – and alcohol on his breath. Police noticed the same.

"They smelled it. They escorted him back up the hill and did a field sobriety test," he said. "He couldn’t do a few steps without falling sideways."

Video from the scene shows Eli taking the field sobriety test and his subsequent arrest. His blood alcohol content was .23. In North Carolina, anything above .04 is illegal for commercial drivers.

According to his father, Carl Reinhart had to push himself up on the hood, so he wouldn’t go under and be dragged by the bus. His injuries include severe hyper extension. He's been told to rest for a few weeks and wear a knee brace, and he's expected to be okay.

"Carl taking blow may have stopped [the driver] from killing people down the road," said his father. "If Carl was the one to sacrifice to make sure others safe, then we can live with that.”

Eli said he’s been struggling with alcoholism for several years now, and assured WRAL News this was the first time he’s driven a school bus while intoxicated.

He also wants parents to know how sorry he is. His biggest fear is that the students who usually ride his bus will find out about the arrest.

He said he loves them all very much.

Eli's license was revoked, according to the arrest warrant.

"That guy is transporting someone's children," said Larry Reinhart. "It's just a total lack of respect for human dignity."

Eli told WRAL News he has been and will continue going to therapy for help.