School bus driver charged with endangering safety of four students
911 call released
A Racine County bus driver was charged Thursday with recklessly endangering the safety of four special education students.
Rows of a Racine County cornfield were plowed over by a school bus Tuesday afternoon.
VIDEO: Racine County bus driver charged with 4 counts of recklessly endangering safety
The incident was witnessed by a man who called 911. That call was released to WISN 12 News on Thursday.
“I want to report a school bus. I saw it go off the road and pick up and went partially into a cornfield and back up onto the road,” the caller said.
“It's yellow bus No. 47, and if you look at it, it has cornstalks hanging underneath,” the caller said.
The witness continued to follow S & J Bus Service No. 47
“He just turned right onto Stephanie Street,” the caller said.
Police arrested the driver, Jason Stalbaum, 37, a short time later in Burlington. He’s accused of operating while impaired.
Deputies said Stalbaum admitted to abusing prescription anti-anxiety drugs that cause him to "check out.”
Stalbaum also admitted to taking that drug Tuesday afternoon and to smoking marijuana days prior to the incident.
His bail has been set at $50,000.
Stalbaum has been suspended from his position at S & J Bus Service.