Bus driver who took children back to school instead of home blames gin-soaked raisins

Police say a Pennsylvania bus driver who took children back to school instead of driving them home after classes ended has acknowledged eating gin-soaked raisins. Police in Columbia County have filed charges against a bus driver for allegedly driving her bus route under the influence.  

Students on the bus in the Benton Area School District said the driver was acting strange and driving erratically on their way home after school on Wednesday afternoon. Police said that bus driver, Jennifer Watson of Benton, is suspected of driving under the influence. Police filed several charges against her, including DUI and reckless driving.

Charging documents show the students told police: “The driver was yelling and cursing at students and was driving all over the road.” Students say it seemed Watson thought she was driving her morning bus route. Police said the students told her: “It was 3:40 in the afternoon, time to go home”. Police said Watson then took the children back to school where school officials and Watson’s boss, the owner of Brewington Transportation in Benton, were waiting for her.

When police spoke with Watson on the charges she faces, she denied drinking but said she had gin-soaked raisins to help with headaches. Watson`s next door neighbour said she hopes people won`t be too quick to judge her. “You don`t know what`s happening in somebody`s house or how they feel that day. It`s not right to condemn them,” said Mary Ann Zeveney. Police said Watson has not been formally charged, but the charging documents are at a magistrate`s office. Watson is expected to be arraigned on those charges at a later time.