Mount Prospect Bus Driver Admits Driving Students Home While Drunk

At the Rolling Meadows Courthouse, Betty Burden, 55, plead guilty to aggravated DUI and admitted she was drunk when she drove students home from school last March. Burden delivered nearly 45 Lions Park Elementary School students to their homes along nearly a seven mile route.

Burden failed a field sobriety test and was found to have a Blood Alcohol Level of nearly three times that legal limit at .226 percent. She admitted drinking vodka and orange juice before driving the children home.

Burden and her supervisor were both fired following the incident. Burden’s supervisor had checked on her after getting a report that she might have been drinking but did not immediately contact the police.

Burden unsuccessfully tried to have the DUI charges dismissed which ultimately lead to her guilty plea. On January 26, 2011 a judge sentenced her to 30 months probation, 480 hours of community service and a fine of $1,720.00. Burden must also comply with any recommendations for alcohol treatment.

Dist. 57 school bus driver pleads guilty to driving drunk, www.dailyherald.com, January 5, 2011