Scandal has rocked a quiet Nebraska community after a school bus driver, allegedly hammered behind the wheel, shuttled dozens of kids around before authorities stepped in.
Betty Johnson, 68, is accused of cruising her regular Norris School District routes on May 7, 2025, while sporting a blood alcohol concentration a staggering three times the legal threshold. By the time Johnson faced the music, nearly 40 children—including preschoolers—had unwittingly taken a wild ride.
According to shocking court records, Johnson took a plea deal this week. She entered a no contest plea on charges of high-level DUI (0.15+), child abuse, and reckless driving—all misdemeanors—after prosecutors agreed to drop two counts tied to transporting children while intoxicated.
Sources say Johnson handled her morning shift around Lincoln’s Lancaster County with intoxication levels so severe, school staff sounded the alarm later that afternoon. At about 3:30 p.m., suspicious personnel flagged down the school resource deputy, who wasted no time confronting Johnson. ‘She was extremely, noticeably drunk,’ the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office revealed in a dramatic press conference. Cops immediately had her blow into a breathalyzer—and the results were jaw-dropping: a reported 0.22 BAC, close to triple Nebraska’s legal limit of 0.08.
A Breathalyzer test / Imagn
Chief Deputy Ben Houchin didn’t mince words. ‘In 32 years, I’ve never seen a school bus driver this drunk on duty. We’re lucky she was caught before any after-school routes,’ he said, relief evident in his voice. Johnson reportedly admitted to boozing up before her noon route—just before taking even more preschoolers for an unnerving spin—but it remains unclear if her morning passengers were exposed to the same risky ride.
After her immediate arrest, Johnson’s career came to a screeching halt. The Norris School District announced her termination and issued a firm message: ‘Student safety comes first, and Betty Johnson will never drive for us again.’ School officials thanked local law enforcement for their quick action, crediting their partnership for averting a potential catastrophe.
Johnson is currently being held at the Lancaster County jail as the community reels from the shocking breach of trust. As the legal saga unfolds, one thing is clear: this school bus driver’s wild day is over.
