Richard Arthur Potratz, a 71-year-old veteran bus driver, admitted in Saskatoon provincial court to mixing hard liquor with fentanyl and hydromorphone while driving a charter bus with 52 Saskatoon grade school students onboard. He explained that he had been enduring severe back pain for 20 years and the prescribed medication was no longer effective. The incident occurred on March 14 when the bus, carrying Grade 6, 7, and 8 students from Holliston Elementary School, was returning from a trip to Table Mountain. Saskatoon police responded to reports of an erratic driver and found Potratz unconscious in a car driven by a parent following the bus.
Potratz expressed remorse for the fear he caused and admitted guilt to driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit. During the court proceedings, the Crown prosecutor highlighted Potratz’s medical conditions and presented a victim impact statement from a teacher on the bus. The teacher described the incident as terrifying and likened it to the Humboldt Broncos crash, emphasizing the impact on students and staff.
Potratz, representing himself in court, shared that his chronic back pain led him to rely on increasing doses of painkillers and alcohol. He acknowledged his irresponsible decision and expressed regret, stating that the incident was a wake-up call. The prosecutor suggested a two-year community-based sentence for Potratz, which he accepted without objection. The judge reserved his decision for a later date, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter and the need for careful consideration.