Pirates bus driver arrested for DUI while transporting team to Milwaukee

The Pittsburgh Pirates did not have a smooth trip going from Chicago to Milwaukee for their Friday game.

Shortly after leaving Wrigley Field on Thursday night to take the short journey north to Milwaukee, the team's bus was pulled over on Interstate 94 and the driver was arrested for driving under the influence. 

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, police noticed the bus driving erratically and not following the designated escort route from the stadium. Police initially believed that the driver might have been having a medical emergency but found that he was demonstrating signs of impairment. 

He was arrested and charged.

The driver is not a Pirates team employee and has no official affiliation with the organization. Team bus drivers are contracted out locally. 

Still, the team said it was very concerned about the development. 

Via the Post-Gazette:

“We are deeply concerned regarding what transpired [Thursday] night," Warecki said in a statement provided to multiple outlets.

"The important thing is that all of our personnel arrived in Milwaukee safely. "Buses are contracted out to a local provider, which was consistent with this trip, and we are now in communication with the appropriate parties regarding this matter.”

It's concerning because the team staff, coaches and players are all in the hands of the driver and have no idea what their situation is when they get on the bus. It is not like they are on their own and can simply call an Uber or Lyft to get them home.  

The Pirates ended up getting to Milwaukee and lost the first game of the series, 5-4, extending their losing streak to four games. That pushed them out of first place and into a second-place tie with the Cincinnati Reds.