Carole Ann Etheridge a Georgia school bus driver is arrested after driving drunk with 31 students on board. But the warning signs were there before.
Carole Ann Etheridge a Walton County, Georgia school bus driver has been arrested after allegedly driving a bus full of students while under the influence of alcohol.
The 49-year-old woman’s arrest on Monday came after one the students on the bus texted their parents to tell them they noticed ‘something was off’ (and how) reported WXIA reported.
Etheridge was pulled over at Loganville Middle School where she tested positive for DUI. Another bus driver was called in to complete her route.
A report via ajc told of 31 students being on board at the time, of which 16 were under the age of 14.
But it gets better.
A regard of the woman’s purse led to deputies discovering a large bottle of tequila, small bottles of vodka and prescription pills.
But there had been warnings.
Melanie Walker, a mother whose children were on the bus, posted on Facebook that she called the school twice earlier this year to complain about Etheridge’s driving, which she called ‘erratic.’
But it gets crazier.
A spokesperson from the school district insisted that the board was not aware of any complaints against Etheridge, adding the school bus driver has been with the district since March after passing a background check.
But there were signs that maybe Etheridge was holed up in her own very special world.
According to wsbtv Etheridge previously worked for the Gwinnett school system, but was fired in January for ‘unsatisfactory performance’.
School officials said Etheridge was no longer employed with the school district.
Etheridge faces 16 counts of child endangerment charges, as well as DUI. Jail officials reportedly said the driver’s charges were written as traffic citations and no warrants were issued. She’s currently out of jail on a $25,000 bond.
