School Bus Driver Charged With DUI
Carole Etheridge of Georgia is arrested and charged with one count of DUI and 16 counts of endangering a child for each student aboard the bus under the age of 14.
LOGANVILLE, Ga. — A school bus driver here was fired on Monday after being accused of driving her bus under the influence with 31 students on board.
A student on the bus that Carole Etheridge was driving captured part of the ride on video and told CBS46 that Etheridge seemed to be driving 60 to 70 miles per hour “and she hit a driveway and we started to wobble.” Several students contacted their parents, who then notified the Walton County School District, according to CBS46.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Etheridge had a large bottle of tequila, small bottles of vodka, and prescription pills in her purse. Etheridge was arrested at Loganville Middle School after taking a field sobriety test, WSB-TV reports.
Etheridge was charged with one count of DUI and 16 counts of endangering a child for each student aboard the bus under the age of 14. Callen Moore, a spokeswoman for the Walton County School District, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that there was a total of 31 students aboard the bus.
Etheridge began driving a bus for Walton County School District in March, and school officials told the newspaper that a background check found no issues. Gwinnett County Public Schools confirmed to WSB-TV that Etheridge had driven for them but was fired in January for “unsatisfactory performance.”
More Safety

From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible
Smart technology only delivers its full value when it works together. See how Catalyst connects proven industry platforms to move student transportation from reactive to proactive.
Read More →
HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud Warns Motorists of Stopped School Buses
Through a transponder or Samsara connection, the product lets school bus fleets send advance warnings to approaching drivers through in-vehicle alerts.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council
More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.
Read More →
What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation
The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.
Read More →
School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs
Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.
Read More →
Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.
A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.
Read More →
National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe
School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.
Read More →
2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash
A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.
Read More →
Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts
With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.
Read More →
School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →

