A Nebraska school bus driver has pleaded no contest after being caught driving with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit — while transporting young children. The shocking case has raised serious concerns about student safety and the systems in place to prevent such incidents.
Nebraska Bus Driver Caught Drunk on the Job Accepts Plea Deal
Betty Johnson, 68, a former driver for the Norris School District in Lancaster County, Nebraska, accepted a plea deal in connection with a DUI incident that took place on May 7, 2025. According to local reports, she pleaded no contest to the following misdemeanor charges:
- Driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or higher
- Child abuse
- First-offense reckless driving
As part of her plea agreement, prosecutors dropped two counts of transporting a child while intoxicated.
What Happened on May 7, 2025?
On the day of the incident, Johnson was behind the wheel for her morning school bus route, with 40 children onboard. After completing that route, she was scheduled to return for a noon preschool route, followed by an after-school route later in the day.
At around 3:30 p.m., school staff noticed something was wrong and contacted the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. A school resource officer responded and found that Johnson was clearly extremely intoxicated.
She was immediately given a breathalyzer test, which revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.22 — nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08. Authorities said she was then arrested on the spot and taken to jail.
Admission and Immediate Firing
According to law enforcement, Johnson admitted to drinking before her noon route, which involved preschool children. It remains unclear whether she had been drinking prior to her morning route as well. She also admitted to drinking again after the noon run, before her next scheduled route in the afternoon.
The Norris School District took swift action. Johnson was fired the same day of her arrest, with officials stating:
“She will not drive for our school district ever again.”
The district also emphasized its commitment to student safety and thanked the sheriff’s office for helping protect students.
Law Enforcement Responds
Chief Deputy Ben Houchin of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said this type of case is highly unusual:
“I’ve been doing this job for 32 years now. I have never heard of a school bus driver being intoxicated — let alone this high.”
He added that the community was fortunate the situation was caught in time:
“We are very lucky that she got caught and was not allowed to do that after-school one.”
What Happens Next?
Although Johnson has accepted the plea deal, sentencing details have not been released yet. The outcome will likely include fines, possible jail time, and loss of her driver’s license. The fact that children were involved will also likely be a major factor during sentencing.
