A Lakewood bus driver was charged with DWI and other serious charges after crashing into a parked vehicle, police tell TLS.
At about 9 AM on Monday, Officer Michael Livingston responded to the area of Ridge Avenue and Somerset Avenue for a motor vehicle crash involving a school bus that did not have any passengers on it.
“Upon arrival, Officer Livingston learned that the operator of the bus, 54-year-old Mark Waldhelm of Howell NJ, had collided with a parked 2001 Saturn while traveling west on Ridge Avenue,” Detective Lieutenant Greg Staffordsmith said.
As a result of the impact, the Saturn was pushed approximately 30 feet west of its parked location.
As Officer Livingston was speaking to Waldhelm, he noticed that he was swaying from side to side, spoke slowly, and his speech was slurred.
“Further investigation, with the assistance of Drug Recognition Officer Jospeh Sandstrom, determined that Mark Waldhelm was under the influence of a prescription narcotic,” Staffordsmith said.
The bus driver had reportedly just dropped off children, and was making another run.
As a result, he was subsequently arrested and charged with DWI, Reckless Driving and Careless Driving. He was released a short time later pending a future court date.
To think that he would have just picked up our children is frightening.
This is crazy!!!
Is there a way to ensure drivers are sober before they get on the bus??
I can’t start imagining what disaster these children were saved from B”H!!
Just another (moderated) Bus Driver. Why does that company always seem to be in the news.
Lets start with who they are hiring and from where
Doesn’t say he was drunk, but was taking a prescription narcotic. In any case, he should not have been driving.
Excuse me #3, tell me how you know it’s “that company”. There is no sign anywhere as far as I can see. Be careful what you say before you jump to conclusions. No company was mentioned- even if you have outside info, perhaps you’d be better off not saying anything.
Excuse me to #5 ,reader #3 not assuming anything. Its all over the news and in the paper. It would have been known anyway. Read your facts first….
Not all bus drivers that work they are bad. In fact there are many, many whom are very good. As said before a few bad apples dont spoil the whole bunch. But i agree, to many black eyes at this co. They should look into whos turning a blind eye there.
Kathy, When it comes to school bus drivers ONE bad apple will spoil the whole bunch. Bad drivers can not be tolerated period. ZERO TOLERANCE. The bus company should be questioned and make sure all background checks were performed etc.. There must be consequences.
WHY DOESN’T EVERY BUS HAVE A VIDEO CAMERA MONITOR ON IT!
IT SHOULD BE THE LAW!! WOULD YOU ALLOW ANY BUS DRIVER TO DRIVE YOUR CHILDREN 5-12 YRS OLD FOR AN HOUR TRIP IN THEIR PRIVATE CAR?? SO WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? (Especially if your child is the first stop picked up, or last one dropped off).
AT THE LEAST WE SHOULD DEMAND A SCHOOL MONITOR ON THE BUS AT ALL TIMES, UNTIL WE CAN GET A LAW PASSED FOR CAMERAS.
WE SHOULD BE DEMANDING THIS FROM THE BUS COMPANY D.O.E. AND ALL SCHOOL ADMINS!!
Twice my husband and I got yelled out for not stopping by bus drivers. Both buses had no lights on or a stop sign out, so we slowly went by. Do they give background checks? Scary. One driver thanked us, he didn’t know the lights and stop sign were out ; not the other driver.
Did I just comment on the seatbelt use in the story about air conditioning on the busses…
Thr ones complaining about doing a background check. Just wondering why your not complaining about your schools not doing background checks on the janitors., Or nannies and cleaning ladies which you have no problem hiring without a background check. Whays good for the goose is good for the gander.
I am a school bus driver in Lakewood and I WILL NOT move my bus until every child is seated. If a child stands up I pull over to the side of the road when I can and wait for that child to sit down. I only allow plain water to be consumed on the bus. NOT ALL of us are bad apples. Some of actually care for the children we transport. I WORK FOR THE SAME COMPANY THAT THIS DRIVER WORKED FOR
Linda well said and I don’t work for that company. If people would give us a chance and stop speaking negative like it says in our religion and start working on the way they drive in lakewood. Letting a bus through at an intersection or allowing a bus to make a turn WITH THERE CHILDREN ON BOARD RATHER THEY CUTTING US OFF there children would be much safer. Please to all my fellow bus drivers please let’s hang in there and have a very safe summer…….
I’m not gonna say all the bus drivers are bad. I met a very good one from that company too. But the company should definitely be accountable on some level and I think TLS should stop covering up for them and print their name. It doesn’t do anyone any good to ignore it. Not the kids not the company. I would mention it here but I know it won’t get by the moderator
Just saying that more and more I see bus drivers texting and talking on phones held to their ears. Craziness!
A vehicle is like a loaded gun….