NAPPANEE, IND. (WOWO) A NorthWood High School student is speaking out about what she describes as a terrifying 2024 field trip bus ride involving an allegedly intoxicated charter bus driver, as a related civil lawsuit and criminal case continue to move through the court system. Student describes inc ident during school field trip Elise Mestach, now a senior, told WNDU the incident occurred in May 2024 while she and classmates were traveling to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for a theater trip to see the musical “Wicked.” Mestach said the atmosphere on the bus was initially positive before the situation changed during the drive. “It was so exciting because again, first Broadway show, I’m a theater kid. And I had a lot of friends that were also really excited. So, the mood before it was very uplifting and very joyful,” Mestach said. Allegations of impaired driving during trip Mestach said the bus driver, identified in court records as John Schmidt, began driving erratically during the trip, including speeding up to 80 mph in a 55 mph zone, striking construction barrels, and driving onto a sidewalk. “Definitely the being on the sidewalk, that is the exact moment where I was like, ‘We are in danger. This is not okay,’” Mestach said. “I’m fearing for my life at this point because I have no control over what John is going to do. No one on that bus had control over what was going to happen, so our lives were just in the hands of a drunk man.” She also said she believed the driver was intoxicated based on his behavior, including slurred speech and apparent paranoia. Stop in Schoolcraft and arrest According to Mestach, chaperones directed the driver to stop at a McDonald’s in Schoolcraft, Michigan, where she said he exited the bus and urinated in front of students. Police later arrested Schmidt, and court records indicate his blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit. Mestach said she and other students remained at the restaurant during the stop, describing concern over what had occurred during the ride. Emotional impact and family response Mestach said she chose not to reboard the bus following the incident and instead traveled home with a friend’s parent. Her mother, Jane Mestach, said she did not fully understand the emotional impact until she saw her daughter after the trip. “That’s just one of those things that it’s when I saw her and she was okay. And I was able to hug her and she was sobbing,” she said. Mestach said the experience continued to affect her in the months following the trip, including an inability to get on another bus for a separate school activity. “It wasn’t like a conscious decision,” Mestach said. “It was just like a trauma response… my body was telling me, ‘Do not get on that bus.’” Lawsuit and court proceedings The Mestach family has filed a civil lawsuit against Berea Transport and the driver, saying they are seeking accountability and answers rather than financial compensation. The family said they received a $500 settlement offer to drop the case, which they declined. “It’s about getting them to pay attention to us and acknowledge that what they allowed to happen was wrong,” Mestach said. In court filings, attorneys for Berea Transport requested additional time and submitted a notice of discovery. Judge Andrew Hicks granted the request, setting a response deadline of July 23. Criminal case still pending Court officials say the criminal case against Schmidt remains open, with three charges pending. Prosecutors are still awaiting official blood test results before the case moves forward. Next steps in legal process The civil case is expected to continue as discovery proceeds, while the criminal case remains on hold pending laboratory results and further prosecutorial action. Additional hearings and filings are expected later this summer as both matters advance through the court system. The post NorthWood student describes alleged drunk driving incident on 2024 school bus trip appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less