Pittsburgh Pirates bus driver arrested for DUI while transporting team members

A bus driver hired to transport the Pittsburgh Pirates from Chicago to Milwaukee was arrested and charged with DUI shortly after the trip began, according to CWBChicago. The incident occurred Thursday after the Pirates’ 7-2 road loss to the Cubs as they traveled for their next series against the Brewers.

A police escort was set to lead the way for the bus driver but once he took off the officers noticed his driving seemed erratic. An Illinois State Police spokesperson said the driver showed “multiple signs of impairment” once the police pulled him over roughly 25 minutes away from Wrigley Field.

“During the escort, the bus driver, 61-year-old Ronald E. Funderburke from Shelby, NC, was not following the escort and was traveling away from the escorting officers,” the spokesperson said in a written statement. “Troopers observed more erratic driving and stopped the bus on the right shoulder of Interstate 94 northbound at Dempster Street.

“After observing multiple signs of impairment, troopers arrested Funderburke for driving under the influence of alcohol and transported him to Chicago Police Department 16th District.”

A trooper initially called an ambulance to the scene, believing that Funderburke was suffering from a medical emergency. That later appeared not to be the case, though police did not reply to a follow-up from CWBChicago asking what the bus driver’s blood-alcohol content was.

Pirates Senior VP of Communications Brian Warecki gave a statement on the incident Friday evening.

“We are deeply concerned regarding what transpired last night,” Warecki said. “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.” 

Chicago and Milwaukee and a little more than 90 miles apart, and it’s typical practice for MLB teams traveling from one city to the other to do so by bus. However, it typically doesn’t end with the bus driver getting a DUI like in the Pirates case.

Funderburke is not affiliated with the team, as he was simply contracted by the club. Thankfully, it appears no one was hurt in the scary situation.

The Pirates moved on the start a three-game series against the Brewers on Friday. They lost the opening game 5-4 before going on to lose 5-0 in the second game Saturday. The third and final game is scheduled to begin at 2:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.