Police: Rhode Island bus driver drove drunk with kids on board; levels 3 times legal limit

WEST GREENWICH, R.I. (WPRI) – When West Greenwich police officers pulled over a school bus driver in town this week, she had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, the police chief said.

Shelly Way, 52, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after officers pulled her over on Route 3 Tuesday night.

West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsey told said Way had a blood-alcohol content that was three times the legal limit. He said the bus was straddling two lanes traveling at 15 mph when officers pulled her over.

At the time of her arrest, Ramsey said Way was the only one on board the bus. However, he said that wasn’t the case prior to her arrest.

“The information that I do have was that she was actually at one point driving the boys’ Westerly track team home from a track meet that was taking place in Providence. But, at the time she was stopped by us, she was the only occupant on the bus.

According to The Westerly Sun, the track coach noticed Way was driving erratically and told her to pull over. He got all of the kids off the bus so they could wait for another bus to pick them up.

“I had children that went through high school. They both played sports. They were both on buses on several, several occasions. It’s very lucky that nobody was injured and the fact that she’s been taken off the road is important,” Ramsey said.

Way is set to be arraigned January 4.

Ramsey said it was his understanding Way resigned her position as a bus driver.