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DUDLEY, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts school bus driver charged with being drunk when he crashed his bus carrying 11 high school and middle school students into a utility pole has pleaded not guilty.
Scott Poirier (POH'-ree-ay), of Dudley, was released on personal recognizance with GPS monitoring at his arraignment Friday. He refused to talk to reporters outside court. Prosecutors say he denied drinking, but told police he had taken cold medicine.
Authorities responded to the crash at around 3 p.m. Thursday in Dudley. First responders found the bus with wires from a utility pole across its roof.
Police say he struck the pole at low speed while reversing.
No injuries were reported but the crash caused power outages.
He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
The bus company has suspended Poirier.
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