Ambulance Driver Charged with DUI Relapsed, Officials Say

An incident earlier this month in which a Newtown Ambulance Squad driver was charged with a DUI while transporting a patient was a fluke and is being addressed, squad officials told the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors Wednesday.

The discussion came nearly two weeks after driver Nicholas White, 30, was charged with drunken driving after he was in a minor accident on Route 1 in Middletown Township.

White, who officials said was fired April 14, the day the arrested occurred, had worked for the squad for about two years.

Squad president Joe Swerk told the supervisors White is a recovering alcoholic who had a relapse, Chairman Mike Gallagher told Patch. He had been sober for several years up until recently and his drinking was not a problem known to squad officials, Gallager summarized.

Squad management takes substance abuse classes to prevent incidents like White’s on-the-job DUI arrest from happening. The incident was a fluke, squad officials explained to the supervisors.

On the afternoon of April 14, White was in a minor accident in which no one was injured. However, officers who responded noticed he was exhibiting signs of intoxication.

Newtown Ambulance Squad, located on Eagle Road, has been in existence for more than 50 years, according to its website.

According to its website, "our trained paramedics and emergency medical technicians are carefully screened before they become part of the team, so you can depend on them to give you or your loved one the care they need during transport."

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Newtown Ambulance Driver Reportedly Charged with DUI