BIXBY, Okla. -- An Oklahoma school bus driver accused of driving a bus with students on board while intoxicated was charged in connection with the alleged crime.
On Feb. 28, officials with Bixby Public Schools said the district’s transportation director pulled 64-year-old Donny Cheatham aside after receiving reports that he was running late on his route.
At that point, the director smelled alcohol on Cheatham and took him to perform a drug and alcohol screening.
Authorities said Cheatham had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.
According to a news release from Bixby Public Schools, Cheatham had driven an elementary and secondary route that morning. The route included 66 students from Central Elementary School or Central Intermediate and six students from Bixby Middle School or Bixby High School.
He was arrested on complaints of child endangerment and public intoxication. He was terminated from the school district.
A statement by Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller read:
On Tuesday, March 3, Cheatham was charged with one count of child endangerment and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol. He could have faced 72 counts of child endangerment, one for each student on the bus.
Cheatham was released after posting a $15,000 bond, Tulsa County Jail records show.