SchoolBus logo in red and orange
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Student Stops Allegedly Drunk School Bus Driver

The Alabama sophomore notices erratic driving, and has the driver keep the bus turned off after she pulls over. The driver is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless endangerment.

May 17, 2018
2 min to read


BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. — A student here stepped in to stop a school bus driver who was driving erratically and was later arrested for being intoxicated while behind the wheel, WALA reports.

High school sophomore Cody Butler told the news source that his bus driver, Vicki Patrick, was swerving, and driving fast and then slow. He went to the front of the bus to see if she was OK, smelled alcohol, and noticed she was slurring her words. Butler walked back to his seat, called his mother and told her, and she called 911.

Patrick tried to pull over at a nearby fire station, but she missed the turn, stopped next to an intersection, and turned the bus off, Butler told WALA. She tried to call another bus to pick up the students but reportedly couldn’t form a complete sentence. Butler added that he wouldn’t let Patrick turn on the bus, and he told her to stay where she was.

A Baldwin County Public Schools employee stopped by and asked Patrick what was wrong, Butler told the news source. Butler added that he motioned for the employee to come over and “mouthed that she was drunk.” Patrick smelled like alcohol, had trouble standing and answering questions, and refused to take sobriety tests, deputies from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office told WALA. Her blood alcohol level was 15 times over the limit, Eddie Tyler, the superintendent for the district, told the news source. She is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless endangerment.

To read the full story, go here.  

 

More Safety

Kids need more from a driverless ride graphic comparing “Getting from A to B” vs “Student Transportation,” with a Waymo-style autonomous car image and School Bus Fleet logo.
SafetyFebruary 11, 2026

Autonomous Vehicles Aren’t Built for Student Transportation [Op-Ed]

Driverless cars may feel the future, but student transportation requires more than navigation. Here’s why it demands human judgment, empathy, and oversight.

Read More →
Graphic showing the front of a yellow school bus with cracked-glass overlay and headline reading “Fatal School Bus Hit & Run in New York,” dated February 5, 2026, alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsFebruary 10, 2026

New York Girl Killed by School Bus Hit & Run

An 11-year-old in Brooklyn was killed crossing the street. Meanwhile, the school bus driver faces misdemeanor charges after he left the scene.

Read More →
2026 Disaster Response Guide Call for Experts is Open.
Safetyby StaffFebruary 9, 2026

Disaster Readiness Starts Before the Storm [Call for Experts]

The 2026 Disaster Response Guide is officially underway, and we’re now opening a Call for Insights and Experts.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
school bus driver with student
SponsoredFebruary 9, 2026

How Supplemental Transportation Helps Close Driver Gaps

Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.

Read More →
Fatal School Bus Accident in New York graphic dated Jan. 29, 2026, showing a close-up of a yellow school bus with cracked-glass overlay and School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby StaffFebruary 3, 2026

New York 5-Year-Old Killed by School Bus, Investigation Ongoing

A Rockland County child was struck by their school bus late last week. Here's what we know so far about this and other fatalities and injuries in the area over the years.

Read More →
A red, orange and yellow graphic with anti-pinch door sensor products and text reading "Maine's New Mandate: Anti-Pinch-Sensors & Bus Safety."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJanuary 29, 2026

Prevent School Bus Dragging Incidents: Anti-Pinch Door Sensors and Maine’s New Mandate

As Maine becomes one of the first states to require anti-pinch door sensors on new school buses, manufacturers like Mayser offer a look at how the technology works and why it's a critical fail-safe.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SponsoredJanuary 29, 2026

8 Ways To Simplify and Streamline School Bus Fleet Operations

What if your fleet technology actually worked together? Learn eight practical strategies to integrate multiple systems into one platform, unlocking clearer insights, stronger safety standards, and smoother daily operations.

Read More →
an illustration of a survey on a mobile phone with a hand on it, and the words Survey Says on it
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseJanuary 28, 2026

Survey: Most Parents Want Automated Enforcement on School Buses

A recent Verra Mobility survey reports that 82% of parents support safety cameras to penalize stop-arm violators and 70% favor automated enforcement in school zones.

Read More →
Image of an extended stop-arm with text reading "School Bus Safety: Funding Provides Bus Upgrades Across Ohio."
Safetyby StaffJanuary 27, 2026

State Grant Program Advances School Bus Safety Upgrades Across Ohio

$10 million in state grants will fund safety upgrades and new features on school buses serving students across the Buckeye State.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A white Waymo vehicle waits at a crosswalk as a family crosses.
Safetyby StaffJanuary 26, 2026

Waymo Scrutiny Intensifies as NTSB Launches Investigation

After complications in multiple cities when self-driving taxis failed to stop for school buses, the NTSB joins NHTSA in a probe to determine what's behind the tech and related safety concerns.

Read More →