A judge in Saskatoon has handed down a jail sentence to a bus driver who drove a charter bus with 52 children on board while under the influence of alcohol and painkillers. Judge Brad Mitchell deemed the driver’s actions as posing a severe risk and therefore imposed a sentence harsher than what the Crown had suggested.
Richard Arthur Potratz, aged 71, was operating a Prince Albert Northern Bus Lines charter on March 14, 2025, carrying 52 school children and two teachers returning from a ski trip. Witnesses reported Potratz driving erratically, drifting across lanes and onto the shoulder, causing fear among the passengers. One of the teachers managed to persuade him to stop the bus before police arrived.
Potratz was found with a blood-alcohol content over twice the legal limit and was also using prescribed fentanyl and hydromorphone for severe back pain that day. Judge Mitchell condemned Potratz’s reckless decision to drink and drive, describing it as extremely dangerous.
Following the incident, Potratz was dismissed from his position at the bus company. During sentencing, he expressed remorse to the school principal and acknowledged the gravity of his actions. Despite the Crown suggesting a community-based sentence due to Potratz’s age and health issues, Judge Mitchell believed a stronger message needed to be sent to the public.
As a result, Potratz was sentenced to six months in jail, followed by one year of probation with specific conditions, including community service and a two-year driving prohibition. Mitchell highlighted the seriousness of the offense, especially considering the presence of 52 young passengers, emphasizing the impact on parents of school-aged children.