Edgefield Bus Driver Fails Sobriety Test with 2nd Graders Onboard, Leaving Parents Alarmed

Incident on Interstate 20: School Bus Driver Arrested

EDGEFIELD – On September 25, a concerning incident unfolded involving a school bus driver, Janice Waldorf, 62, who was stopped for a sobriety test and subsequently arrested. Paige Durden, a parent from Merriwether Elementary, shared her distress upon learning that her daughter was among the students on the bus.

“I was terrified when I heard they were pulled over on the highway,” Durden recalled, describing her anxiety while still at work. “As a parent, you trust the school to keep your child safe, and this was a nightmare scenario.”

Chaperones Alert Authorities

Waldorf was driving second graders back from a field trip on Interstate 20 when a vigilant parent chaperone contacted the police. Other chaperones, including teachers, had noticed Waldorf’s erratic driving.

The S.C. State Transport Police reported that Waldorf was impaired by Central Nervous System Depressants, which are often prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders. She was charged with driving under the influence and child endangerment.

Authorities discovered 17 bottles of prescription medication in her possession, six of which were expired. Waldorf claimed she did not take medication regularly.

School District Responds to Arrest

Following the incident, Waldorf was dismissed from her role as a bus driver for Edgefield County on October 3. Mike Rosier, spokesperson for the Edgefield County School District, expressed shock, stating, “There was no prior indication of such a serious issue.”

Rosier noted that Waldorf had passed a physical and medical evaluation by the SCDOT just two months prior. He emphasized that all potential bus drivers undergo thorough background checks, medical exams, and drug testing, in addition to holding a valid Commercial Driver’s License and completing training sessions.

Gratitude for Quick-Thinking Chaperones

Rosier extended gratitude to the chaperones on the bus, saying, “Their quick thinking and actions ensured the safety of all students involved.”