(Facebook/ PA Northern Bus Lines)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Prince Albert charter bus driver accused of being impaired while 52 youth on board

Apr 28, 2025 | 2:17 PM

A 70-year-old man with roughly ten years experience driving for Prince Albert Northern Bus Lines, is facing charges related to impaired driving after an incident in Saskatoon that involved dozens of youth.

Richard Arthur Potratz is scheduled to appear Monday afternoon at the Saskatoon provincial court.

The case dates back to the evening of March 14, when Saskatoon police were called to the area of Highway 16 and 71 Street West. They had received a report of an impaired driver operating a charter bus with 52 youth on board.

Upon arrival, officers observed the bus stopped on the roadside and located the driver, believed to be under the influence of an intoxicant, in the back seat of a personal vehicle that had been travelling behind the bus.

A replacement driver attended and continued the charter back into Saskatoon with the passengers. There were no physical injuries reported and Potratz was arrested.

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Stacey Petreman, who owns Prince Albert Northern Bus Lines, confirmed Potratz was let go soon after. He also noted that after being contacted by a passenger on the bus, immediately notified police.

“There was an incident and it was dealt with accordingly. It’s unfortunate but it happened and it’s all been dealt with,” he told paNOW.

Petreman also noted that in the 10 years Potratz worked for the company, there were no issues and no signs of any problems related to alcohol.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social