Georgia Bus Driver Arrested for DUI With 30 Kids Onboard
A substitute school bus driver in Georgia has been arrested after allegedly driving under the influence while transporting approximately 30 children home.
Lori Hagaman, 51, was reportedly swerving between lanes around 3:45 p.m. on Friday, with students on board, according to the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities found an open Stanley Cup-style container suspected to contain wine.
At one point, Hagaman allegedly became unresponsive to students trying to get her attention. She now faces 31 charges, including one felony count of driving a school bus under the influence, multiple misdemeanor counts of reckless driving, reckless conduct, and possession of an open alcohol container.
The police report stated she was “under the influence of alcohol to such a degree that it rendered her a less safe driver.” Deputies noted that she smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech, red eyes, and struggled to walk down the bus steps. During field sobriety tests, she nearly fell several times before the tests were stopped for safety.
She was released on a $30,000+ bail following the arrest.
One concerned parent said her 15-year-old child called her from the bus, saying Hagaman seemed impaired. In response to the incident, the Bartow County School System acknowledged the seriousness of the situation in a statement to parents.
