School Bus Accident in Châteaudun: Driver Tested Positive for Cannabis, Passive Contamination Theory Dismissed

Blood tests confirm the presence of cannabis resin in the system of the school bus driver involved in the fatal accident on Thursday, January 30, in Châteaudun (Eure-et-Loir). The Chartres prosecutor’s office stated that the detected level, exceeding 0.5 nanograms, could not correspond to passive consumption, contradicting the driver’s claims.

Test Results Contradict Driver’s Defense

The 26-year-old driver, with no prior criminal record, tested positive for drugs in a saliva test conducted shortly after the accident. While in police custody, he insisted he had not used cannabis since December and suggested he may have been passively exposed due to his partner’s regular consumption. He also admitted to occasionally lighting her joints. However, authorities argue that the detected concentration in his blood rules out the possibility of passive contamination.

The driver also claimed that another vehicle forced him to swerve, causing him to lose control of the bus. However, preliminary analysis of footage recorded by a dashboard camera in a following vehicle does not confirm the presence of a third-party car near the bus at the time of the crash.

A Tragedy That Rekindles the Debate on Driver Testing

The accident resulted in the death of Joanna, a 15-year-old high school student, and injured several other students. None of them remain hospitalized, but one passenger received a total work incapacity of 21 days.

The investigation, led by an examining magistrate, continues to determine the exact circumstances of the tragedy. The Chartres prosecutor’s office has announced its intention to request pre-trial detention for the driver, who faces charges of aggravated involuntary manslaughter due to drug use and aggravated involuntary injuries.

In response to the tragedy, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has announced plans to strengthen driver testing, particularly for drug use, similar to existing measures for alcohol consumption.