Jury finds fired East Liverpool school bus driver not guilty

A jury has found a former East Liverpool School bus driver not guilty of criminal charges.

During a trial in East Liverpool Municipal Court that lasted one day, 62-year-old Donald Goodwin was found not guilty of child endangering and operating a vehicle under the influence.

Goodwin was fired by the East Liverpool City School Board early last year, shortly after the charges were filed.

The charges came after parents were notified on Jan. 13 that coaches said they noticed that the driver was "exhibiting abnormal behavior and possibly smelled of alcohol" while taking the boys’ basketball team to a game.

According to a police report, coach Nate Conley said that Goodwin took a bend on Bradshaw Avenue at a speed well over the legal limit. Assistant coach Andy Miller claimed he could smell alcohol on Goodwin's breath.

The coaches told Goodwin to pull the bus over at the Westgate Middle School Complex, according to Superintendent Jonathan Ludwig.

Goodwin submitted to a blood test at a city hospital, registering a .075 blood-alcohol content, which is below the .08 legal limit for most drivers in Ohio.

The limit, however, for a school bus and commercial truck drivers is .04, so Goodwin was charged with OVI.