|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Originally published Aug. 28, 2024
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio – A Martins Ferry City Schools bus driver was charged with OVI (operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol) on Monday evening in Cambridge, Ohio, according to Chief Dave Peoples of the Cambridge Police Department
Ronald D. Irvin Vah Jr., 58, of Martins Ferry, was charged with OVI, implied consent to a chemical test, physical control, and endangering children.
Vah reportedly was driving a bus carrying Martins Ferry City Schools students and coaches to a sporting event in Cambridge.
Cambridge Patrolman Zach Smith found a cooler allegedly belonging to Vah on the bus with medicine bottles and a stainless steel tumbler with liquid that reportedly smelled like alcohol.
The Cambridge Police Department had responded to a complaint about a reportedly impaired man at Cambridge Middle School during a student volleyball game. Parents at the game witnessed Vah allegedly “stumbling, screaming and wobbling” at the volleyball game.
Martins Ferry Coach Nikki Baranski told police Vah was driving “really bad” and that that she and two other coaches witnessed Vah allegedly almost hit other cars with the bus in traffic on Interstate 70 in St. Clairsville. Baranski told the officer the bus left Martins Ferry around 3:30 p.m. and arrived at Cambridge Middle School around 5 p.m.
Vah apparently did not stop driving after the alleged near-miss accidents in St. Clairsville, and allegedly drove on to Cambridge, which is approximately another 45 minutes’ drive.
Baranski told the Cambridge officer that students would not be riding back on the bus with Vah and that she had made arrangements, with parental permission, to take the students home.
Cambridge Patrolman Zach Smith interviewed Vah who was sitting on the bench at the game, about what others called “subpar” driving. Vah reportedly said he was tired from a weekend trip to the Tappan Lake and was working two jobs. He said he was a substitute school bus driver for the last 8 to 9 months
Vah reportedly told Smith he was being treated for prostate cancer and took multiple medications for multiple issues. Trooper Miller from the Ohio Highway Patrol also interviewed Vah and Vah reportedly said he takes pain medications. Smith asked if Vah’s medications had warnings about not using them while operating heavy machinery, and Vah reportedly said there were warnings.
Smith was offered preliminary breathalyzer tests by Cambridge police and refused one breathalyzer when he was taken to the Ohio Highway Patrol office. He then asked for a lawyer.
Vah was able to call his wife, and after the police interview, they left the Ohio Highway Patrol office.
Vah scheduled for a hearing Wednesday, August 28, in Cambridge Municipal Court.