Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus driver suspended on suspicion of driving while impaired
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus driver was arrested Thursday afternoon under suspicion of driving impaired near Oakdale Elementary School in northwest Charlotte. At the time, 21 students were aboard the bus, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Two children were treated for minor injuries at the scene, according to a police report. The nature of the injuries was unclear. The rest were recorded as not having any injuries.
The driver, 70-year-old Sylvia Ann Dollard, was arrested at 5:32 p.m. Thursday. She was given an unsecured bond of $50,000.
CMS acknowledged the incident at a news conference Friday morning and said Dollard has been suspended.
“While we cannot go into specifics because of restrictions around personnel matters, we do and will hold staff to high standards,” CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill said.
Oakdale Elementary parents were notified of the incident in a message from the school’s principal, Sharrone Powell, which read:
Good evening, Oakdale Elementary, this is Principal Dr. Sharrone Powell reaching out to inform you about an incident that occurred this afternoon with bus 1680. We received a report that the driver of the bus was driving erratically in a neighborhood. Transportation services were alerted, and police arrived on scene along with transportation managers and school leadership. Some students on board the bus were taken safely home on another bus. Some parents who arrived at the scene took their children home in their own vehicles.
Your child may have been impacted by this incident. They may feel a variety of emotions: they may be scared, shocked, or confused. What is most important is that we care for and support them. The Crisis Response Team is available to respond to the emotional needs.
We take this matter seriously as the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority. Thank you for your continued support of Oakdale Elementary.
