School Board Addresses Drunken Bus Driver Accusation, Claims "Fake News" With Facebook Post12/10/2016
Darren Doyle, story Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools Patrick Waddell says a Facebook post from the account of someone named Mark Allen Johnson claiming an Edmonson County school bus driver was consuming alcohol on the job is completely false. The post has been shared almost 1000 times at the time of this article. Supt. Waddell said the Edmonson County Board of Education received a phone call from Johnson around 10AM yesterday that accused the bus driver of parking a county school bus at Chuck Evans Liquor on Louisville Road. According to Waddell, the caller said he saw the driver go into the liquor store and come out with a package. Waddell said the caller then claimed he saw the driver consume alcohol while sitting in the bus. The superintendent said the caller also told the board that he had photos and video of the incident. ![]() "I was on a conference call when the board secretary came in my office and told me what was going on," said Waddell. "I ended my phone call and within one minute or less I had made contact with our bus garage, had contacted the driver, and we had a plan in place." That plan, according to Mr. Waddell, was to immediately suspend the driver and ordered the driver to cease her duties on the spot. A replacement driver, school officials, and Edmonson County Sheriff School Resource Officer Jeff Brooks responded immediately and soon arrived at the site of the bus, which was parked at the Subway next door, not Chuck Evans, according to Waddell. "The driver was eating a Subway sandwich and drinking a Sprite," said Waddell. "The driver also denied consuming any alcohol but was immediately transported to our driver training facility to undergo an immediate alcohol test, as per school policy. The test will show whether or not any type of alcohol or drugs have been consumed over the past 24 hours and the test came back negative. Had there been any indication of a positive result, the driver would have been put in law enforcement custody for a breathalizer and other tests, but that did not happen." Deputy Brooks said the driver admitted to purchasing a bottle of wine from the liquor outlet to consume later, but the bottle had not been opened as the original seal had not been broken. The superintendent said the photos in the post did not show the bus at the liquor store and the caller never provided any other photos or videos as he said. Waddell said he could not comment on disciplinary actions taken by the school board but confirmed that the driver was no longer employed by the school system. "The reports of the driver drinking while on the job are completely false," he said. "I don't believe there is a single driver in our school system that would ever consider doing so. People trust me and this school system to put the safety of our kids first, and that's what we did here. ![]() Comments from the account on the original post claimed it was over two hours before the school called him back but Waddell said that was also false. "We responded almost immediately," he said. The name of the driver was not released, no arrests were made, and no charges were filed. The driver had transported students from the county to Bowling Green for a field trip. "It's an unfortunate incident, but at no time were any of our students in any danger whatsoever," said Waddell. "You hear about 'fake news' having an impact on national issues or how it can spread on sites like Facebook, but you don't think about it having such a negative effect right here. It's just very unfortunate."
Karen King
12/10/2016 02:56:37 pm
It is unfortunate, that after finding this person was not guilty of what they were accused of, has lost their job, due to someone's false accusations. It's a shame, that people can post things on Social Media, and cause such a disturbance in someone's life.
Trish Lindsey Jaggers
12/10/2016 04:43:55 pm
I agree, Karen. People get their undies in a bunch too easily. The driver was in BG, had lunch, and PLANNED (going by the report above) to take it home--not leave it on the bus (for children to get at) or consume it beforehand.
Eurica Alexander
12/10/2016 03:05:28 pm
The bus driver should be terminated for even taking alcohol on the bus period! Kids could have gotten it. If the driver wanted a bottle of wine then go get it off duty in their own vehicle! ! I'm so outraged that this is made not be a big deal by the board! My kids ride on the bus and I don't want a driver transporting alcohol on there!
Tom Vincent
12/10/2016 04:22:44 pm
I wonder if this is the same mark Allen Johnson that was arrested for placing an online ad soliciting sex with a minor in McCracken county. (Source is thelakesnews.com July 22, 2016) The mugshot in the article and the pictures of him on Facebook are a match in my opinion...yes the bus driver should not have bought wine while on duty, no question about that, but before actually crucifying somebody check the source...it may be a perverted accused pedophile from Rockfield, KY embellishing an indiscretion and lying for attention!!!
Kim Elkins
12/10/2016 05:38:11 pm
I wonder the same Tom Vincent. Also A Mark Allen Johnson was reporting a clown sighting in September. Hmm . It's all on facebook
Dist. 2 Constable Office
12/10/2016 04:30:14 pm
False accusations that took a school resource officer away from protecting children is bad enough. 12/10/2016 06:01:38 pm
Well my daughter rides that bus that was sitting at the liquor store to school & home everyday. So yes i think a bus driver that goes in a liquor store & purchases alcohol while on duty driving a bus should be fired. Even if they dont open it. It should not be took on a bus where children are.And if your child rode that bus you would see it different. i am glad that person was fired & no children got hurt.
Joey Webb
12/11/2016 01:55:01 pm
Bus driver bought alcohol & stored it on bus while on duty. Should be fired. 'Nuff said.
Amber Vultaggio
12/12/2016 05:53:09 am
Wow! I am so very very glad that both a single person here has EVER bought something not child safe and transported it while their kids were with them! It was a closed bottle of wine! Yes she was wrong to do it while in county vehicle, but it's not something that she should have lost her job for. Everyone gets so BUTT HURT anymore! Stop being so high and mighty and overprotective! 12/12/2016 09:08:34 pm
Well Amber i do not agree with you. YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT ABOUT ME BUT I DONT CARE. YES I MAY BE OVER PROTECTIVE BUT I HAVE ENOUGH SENSE TO KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT PURCHASE ALCOHOL WHILE ON A FIELD TRIP WITH UNDER AGE MINOR CHILDREN. SO IF THAT MAKES ME OVER PROTECTIVE WELL YOU CAN JUST DEAL WITH IT.AND ANOTHER THING MY DAUGHTER IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN A BOTTLE OF ALCOHOL. AND I DO NOT PURCHASE OR TRANSPORT ANYTHING THAT I CANT EVER HAVE MY CHILD WITH ME. I GUESS THATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD PARENT AND A HEATHEN. SO THATS HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT. PEOPLE DONT HAVE ANY MORALS ANYMORE.. AND JUST THINK KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. DOES YOUR CHILD RIDE THAT BUS? YOU MAY SEE IT DIFFERENT IF THEY DID. SO IF THAT MAKES ME HIGH & MIGHTY, I GUESS I AM. RATHER BE THAT THAN A DRUNK OR DOPE HEAD!
Tim Cardwell
12/13/2016 10:20:48 am
HEY EVERYONE LOOK WHO FOUND THE CAPS LOCK. THIS MEANS THIS COMMENT IS REAL IMPORTANT. Comments are closed.
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