A former Springdale School District bus driver has pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated after authorities said she crashed a school bus carrying dozens of students and continued her route before returning to the district’s transportation facility, reported Northwest Arkansas.
According to the news report, Dawn Ellen Russell, 70, of Springdale entered the guilty plea Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court to a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated stemming from the March 4 incident. She was sentenced to one year in jail with all, but one day suspended and fined $1,000.
Prosecutors charged Russell with driving while intoxicated, first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, second-degree criminal mischief, and leaving the scene of an accident involving $10,000 or more in property damage. She pleaded guilty to the DWI charge and was referred to the Washington County Veterans Treatment Court on the remaining charges. Successful completion of the program will result in dismissal of the remaining charges.
Springdale police responded at about 9:08 a.m. March 4 to a report of a school bus that had struck a tree and a utility pole near the intersection of Holcomb Street and Meadow Avenue.
Authorities said there were 53 students on board the bus at the time of the crash, though no injuries were reported. A preliminary police report stated Russell continued driving her assigned route after the collision before returning to the school district’s bus lot. Police later located the bus and driver at the transportation facility. Officers reported smelling alcohol on Russell’s breath during their investigation and subsequently arrested her on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
According to the news report, Russell had transported about 150 students during the morning before the incident was reported. Damage to the utility pole was estimated at approximately $10,000. Following the arrest, the Springdale School District confirmed that one of its bus drivers had been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and that the individual was no longer operating district vehicles.
Written with the assistance of AI.
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