CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — Troopers said Angela Caldwell had a blood alcohol level of 0.31 percent, nearly four times the legal limit when she was arrested by the transport police Monday morning.
Caldwell was driving her school bus on Airport Road taking students to Central High School. It was early in the route and only five students were on the bus at the time.
Eric Clyburn and Eugene Moore were on their way to work and noticed something disturbing.
"The bus was swerving in and out, in and out. I knew something wasn't right," Clyburn said.
Clyburn shot cellphone video of the bus swerving off Airport Road onto the shoulder and back into the lane. Both men saw there were kids on board, and got very worried.
(CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Cellphone video shows bus driver swerving)
Moore managed to get around the bus and drive in front of it. He slowed down, getting the driver to pull off to the shoulder.
He saw the driver, who he said wouldn't open the door of the bus at first. He said she seemed to stumble.
"She was so out of it. I hate that the kids didn't realize what was going on," he said.
Caldwell, 53, has driven for the Chesterfield County School District since 2012. She was charged with DUI, child endangerment and a broken seal.
Troopers said she had mini bottles of liquor in her purse and one of them had been opened.
Chesterfield County school superintendent Harrison Goodwin was stunned to learn of the results of Caldwell's Breathalyzer test.
"Almost four times the legal limit, I was absolutely blown away by that," he said.
A second video given to Channel 9 shows the state transport police, who made the arrest, when an officer drove by on his way to work.
Parents were called and they picked up their children from the scene where the bus stopped at Highway 265 and Airport Road.
Goodwin said he owed a lot to caring people.
"We can't thank our community enough for caring about our kids enough that they would put themselves possibly in harm’s way to make sure our students were safe," he said.
Chesterfield County 911 officials told Channel 9 that they did not receive any 911 calls from students on the bus, but from other drivers who noticed the bus driving erratically.
Caldwell has been suspended as the investigation goes forward. That is standard procedure for state or school employees, Goodwin said.
"I just did what anyone else I hope to would," Moore said. "I'm glad they're all OK."
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