“‘We are very lucky she was caught’: School bus driver who was ‘extremely’ drunk had driven dozens of children, including preschoolers, the day she was arrested”
Background: The Lancaster County Department of Corrections in Lincoln, Nebraska (Google Maps). Inset: Betty Johnson (Lancaster County Sheriff's Office).
Posted For: Hauviette
A Nebraska woman accused of driving a school bus while heavily intoxicated has accepted a plea deal.
Betty Johnson, 68, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or higher, child abuse, and first-offense reckless driving, according to central Nebraska CBS affiliate KOLN. As part of the agreement, prosecutors dropped two counts of transporting a child while intoxicated.
Johnson was employed as a bus driver for the Norris School District in Lancaster County. On May 7, 2025, authorities say she drove her morning bus route carrying approximately 40 students. After a break, she later drove a scheduled noon route and was expected to operate an after-school route as well.
Around 3:30 p.m., school staff contacted the school resource officer with concerns about Johnson’s condition. A deputy responded and found Johnson to be “extremely highly intoxicated,” according to a sheriff’s office spokesperson during a press conference the following day.
Johnson failed a breath test and was found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.22, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08. She was arrested and taken to jail.
Authorities said Johnson admitted to drinking before driving the noon route, which included preschool-aged children, though it remains unclear whether she had consumed alcohol prior to the morning route. She also admitted to drinking again after completing the noon run, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.
“I’ve been doing this job for 32 years and I’ve never heard of a school bus driver being intoxicated, let alone at this level,” the sheriff’s office spokesperson said.
Chief Deputy Ben Houchin of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said officials were relieved the incident was discovered before Johnson could drive the after-school route.
The Norris School District terminated Johnson following her arrest and stated she will never drive for the district again.
“Student safety is our number one priority,” the district said in a statement. “We thank the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office for their continued partnership in keeping our students safe.”
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