A bus driver taking the Pittsburgh Pirates from Chicago to Milwaukee on Thursday night was arrested and charged with drunken driving while transporting the team.
As first reported Friday night by CWB Chicago, Illinois State Police were escorting the bus out of the city on I-94 after the Pirates had lost the final game of their series with the Cubs. The troopers noticed erratic driving. Once pulled over, he was observed exhibiting signs of impairment.
“During the escort, the bus driver, 61-year-old Ronald E. Funderburke from Shelby, N.C., was not following the escort and was traveling away from the escorting officers,” an Illinois State Police spokesperson said in a statement to CWB Chicago. “Troopers observed more erratic driving and stopped the bus on the right shoulder of Interstate 94 northbound at Dempster Street.”
“After observing multiple signs of impairment, troopers arrested Funderburke for driving under the influence of alcohol and transported him to Chicago Police Department 16th District,” the state police spokesperson said.
In an ISP radio transmission archived by crimeisdown.com, a trooper initially summoned an ambulance to the scene because they suspected the bus driver was experiencing a “medical emergency.”
Pirates senior vice president of communications Brian Warecki confirmed the incident by email Friday evening.
“We are deeply concerned regarding what transpired last night. The important thing is that all of our personnel arrived in Milwaukee safely,” said Warecki. “Buses are contracted out to a local provider, which was consistent with this trip, and we are now in communication with the appropriate parties regarding this matter.”
The Pirates arrived in time for their Friday night game against the Brewers at American Family Field. Milwaukee swept the three-game weekend series.
The state police spokesperson did not reply to a follow-up inquiry seeking Funderburke’s blood-alcohol content, CWB Chicago reported.
