A limo driver was charged with DUI Saturday after he allegedly drove a group of west suburban teens to prom in a party bus while intoxicated.
Richard L. Madison, 54, of Palos Hills was charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of reckless conduct, both Class A misdemeanors, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s office. Sources told NBC 5 that Madison registered a 0.239 blood alcohol level.
Madison was driving 23 Oswego East High School students to prom at Abbington Banquets in unincorporated Glen Ellyn when the students became alarmed because of his erratic driving and called their parents, according to the sheriff’s office.
Two off-duty Oswego police officers who were providing security at the prom were informed and contacted the sheriff’s office, which led to Madison’s arrest.
Parent Sharon Brewer says something appeared to be wrong from the start when the party bus showed up 30 minutes late and Madison blamed it on a faulty GPS.
"I texted Jamie to see how the ride was going, if everything was going OK, was he able to find his way," Brewer said.
Her daughter texted back that the driver drove over a median and had cut off a couple of cars.
"I was worried, but then again we were blaring music and trying to have fun, so we didn't put two and two together until we got there and were like this isn't right ... something is wrong," Prom-goer Kelsey Dano said.
Madison, of the 9900 block of Walnut Terrace in Palos Hills, posted bond and was released, according to the DuPage County Sheriff’s office.
"He put 23 young lives in danger," student Jamie Brewer said. "It was scary, and it kind of ruined our senior prom. I just hope he understands what he did was bad."
A representative with Limos Alive apologized for the incident and issued a news release saying Madison is no longer employed with the company. Company representatives say Madison was a certified and tested driver who transports kids five days a week as a school bus driver.
