Body camera footage revealed the erratic behavior of a University of Miami bus driver in the moments before he was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence.
The video released this week showed disturbed driver Timothy Kowalewski, 45, as Coral Gables police responded to a 911 call from a student on board.
On February 16, students told dispatchers that Kowalewski was swerving across US Highway One before he rammed into a tree and then a car.
According to records obtained by NBC Miami, when police arrived, Kowalewski was ‘heavily’ slurring his words and had bloodshot eyes.
‘Are you okay?’ the responding officer asked. ‘Are you having any medical emergency?’
Kowalewski shook his head and stumbled out of the bus, which was parked near a gas station, according to footage obtained by Local10.
The disgruntled driver allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol earlier that day and claimed to have no memory of the reported collision.
‘I f***ing woke up this morning and decided … alcohol,’ said Kowalewski, per WSVN. ‘I don’t have any recollection of it… These kids have more answers than I do.’
Peter Kowalewski, 45, was arrested in February for allegedly driving a University of Miami shuttle while under the influence
According to police, Kowalewski was slurring his words and his eyes were bloodshot
Students claimed that the driver swerved while driving before hitting a tree and then another car
According to the Miami Hurricane, approximately 15 students were on board the shuttle at the time of the incident.
The shuttle dedicated to the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science was headed toward the school’s main campus.
One of the students on board told officials that they were ‘all scared as hell.’
‘It could have been so much worse,’ another told local news. ‘That crash could’ve happened on the bridge, we could’ve been in the water.’
Before police arrived, the students on board appeared to interrogate Kowalewski and demand that he stop the vehicle.
‘Why would you drive if you know you have students?’ one of the passengers demanded in the video obtained by NBC6.
‘No, I’m-I’m-I’m fine,’ Kowalewski slurred.
No injuries were reported on board the shuttle.
‘Sir, we understand, but you’re not fine, you crashed twice on this car ride,’ another said.
‘I did?’ Kowalewski responded.
Kowalewski allegedly admitted to having alcohol earlier in the day and claimed to have no memory of the collisions
The Coral Gables Police Department arrested and charged him with one charge of driving under the influence and two charges of damage to property or person
The man allegedly refused field sobriety tests at the scene and declined a breathalyzer test, prompting police to arrest him.
He was booked at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
The shuttle driver faces one charge of driving under the influence and two charges of damage to property or person.
The University of Miami released a statement after Kowalewski’s arrest, announcing an investigation into the driver.
‘The incident involving a University of Miami campus shuttle is under further investigation by the Coral Gables Police Department,’ it read.
‘The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and the broader University community remains our top priority.’
According to the county website, it appears that Kowalewski is no longer being held in jail.
The results of the university’s investigation remain unclear.
The Daily Mail contacted the University of Miami and Coral Gables Police Department for comment.
