German train driver allegedly drove drunk through NRW

German authorities said Monday that police responded to a situation allegedly involving a drunk train driver behind the wheel of a crowded passenger train on Sunday.

The regional train, RE6, was meant to come to a stop at a station in a town called Rheda-Wiedenbrück in the western and most populous German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

But the driver reportedly drove the train past the station and later brought the train to a stop on open track, in between stations, which is when a train conductor came around and raised suspicion that the driver may have been drunk, according to WDR, the public broadcaster in the region.

WDR reported that the driver is said to have returned a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.267% or 2.67 per mille, indicating a very high level of intoxication that can be potentially dangerous.

In Germany, anything above a BAC of 0.05% or 0.5 per milleis considered as driving under the influence. But there are even stricter laws when it comes to those below 21 years of age and those working in public transport.

The fire department also said that some 250 passengers onboard the RE6 were evacuated and that no one was injured. The driver has been taken into custody and faces criminal charges, according to WDR.