University of Miami shuttle bus driver accused of DUI slurs words in police bodycam footage

Body-worn camera video and a 911 call are shedding new light on the arrest of a University of Miami shuttle bus driver accused of driving under the influence.

The newly released police body camera video from February shows Coral Gables officers arriving moments after the shuttle bus crashed on U.S. 1 following reports from students that the driver was swerving and acting erratically.

Students on board told dispatch the bus had struck objects and that the driver appeared impaired as the vehicle continued along the route.

“The bus driver is under the influence,” a caller tells a dispatcher. “He crashed a few times.”

The driver, identified as 45-year-old Timothy Kowalewski, showed signs of impairment, including slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, and admitted to drinking earlier in the day, police said.

The bodycam footage shows Kowalewski slurring his words as he tries to talk to a police officer.

According to the arrest report, Kowalewski refused field sobriety exercises and later declined a breath test. He was arrested on DUI-related charges, including DUI with property damage.

The University of Miami released a statement when this happened, stating that their students, faculty and staff remain their top priority while the crash is under investigation