A University of Miami shuttle run ended at a tree instead of a bus stop Monday, and now the driver is facing DUI charges after students recorded him insisting he was “fine.” Coral Gables police say they found the driver still behind the wheel and later took him into custody after observing signs of impairment. Both campus and city authorities have opened investigations into what happened just off the Coral Gables campus.
According to the Miami Herald, officers identified the driver as 45-year-old Timothy Kowalewski. Police said the shuttle hit a tree and other objects along the 300 block of U.S. 1 on Monday afternoon. The Herald reports that students later pulled out their phones and recorded video of the aftermath, and that Kowalewski was wearing a patch with an Academy Bus Miami logo on his sleeve.
Coral Gables police told Local 10 that officers found Kowalewski sweating heavily, with bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech. They said he refused field sobriety exercises and a breath test. He was taken to Jackson West Medical Center for medical clearance, then booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Jail records show he posted a $3,500 bond. Police charged him with driving under the influence, two counts of DUI resulting in property damage, and refusing to submit to a breath test.
What students recorded
The cellphone footage circulating among students shows people confronting the driver and pressing him on why he would operate a campus shuttle while intoxicated. In the clip, Kowalewski can be heard responding, “I’m fine,” according to the Miami Herald. It was not the reassurance they were looking for.
News outlets say students and local stations shared the video, which shows passengers pointing out damage to the bus and nearby trees. Investigators have received that footage as they work to piece together the sequence of events at the crash site.
Legal context
Under Florida’s implied consent rules, refusing a breath, blood or urine test after a lawful DUI arrest triggers an automatic administrative license suspension, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The 2025 changes commonly called “Trenton’s Law” upgraded a first refusal to a second-degree misdemeanor and a second or subsequent refusal to a first-degree misdemeanor, per the Florida Senate summary of HB 687. Those changes allow prosecutors to pursue separate refusal charges in addition to DUI counts, which can significantly affect potential penalties and pretrial strategy.
University response and next steps
The University of Miami told Local 10 that the incident involving a campus shuttle remains under investigation by the Coral Gables Police Department and that the safety of students, faculty and staff is a top priority. Coral Gables police say their investigation is ongoing and have asked anyone with information to contact detectives. Campus transportation officials had not released additional updates as of Tuesday evening.
