Man charged with DUI following crash with school bus

Published 9:36 am Friday, October 27, 2017

A Johnson City man faces multiple charges following a motor vehicle crash involving a school bus on Wednesday afternoon.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested Danny Damon Blair, 59, of Johnson City, and charged him with driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. Troopers also issued him citations charging him with violation of the financial responsibility law and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Emergency personnel responded to a report of a vehicle crash involving a school bus on Dalewood Road in the Central community Wednesday afternoon. According to information from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, there were eight students on the bus along with the driver, but no one was injured.

According to court documents, Blair was driving his 2011 Chevrolet Malibu on the wrong side of Dalewood Road when he struck the school bus head-on. Both vehicles were damaged in the crash. Officials with the Carter County School System’s Transportation Department said the bus sustained minimal damage.

Troopers at the scene of the crash had Blair perform a series of field sobriety tests, and he showed multiple indicators of impairment on the tests according to court documents. Blair consented to a blood withdrawal test to determine if any drugs or alcohol were present in his system.

Following his arrest, Blair was booked into the Carter County Detention Center where he remains held on a $4,250 bond. Carter County General Sessions Court is not in session on Friday. If Blair is still in custody at the detention center on Monday, Oct. 30, he will be arraigned that day when General Sessions Court resumes.