KY man charged with DUI for driving loaded school bus while intoxicated

A Kentucky school bus driver faces drunk driving and other charges after he was arrested for operating a bus while impaired with students and teachers on board.

Cody Wilson, 36, of Providence, was arrested Friday afternoon by officials with the Webster County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of driving under the influence. His arrest citation notes three teachers and 19 underage students were on the bus at the time.

He was charged with operating a commercial vehicle under the influence, operating a motor vehicle under the influence with aggravating circumstances and 22 counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

According to the sheriff’s office, Wilson was reported by school staff, and the responding deputy removed him from the bus.

The arrest citation notes Wilson was reportedly “exhibiting sluggish behavior and nodding off, while the bus was being operated recklessly.”

He remained booked in the Webster County Detention Center as of Tuesday afternoon.

Previous court records show Wilson pleaded guilty to second-degree wanton endangerment in August 2024 in an unrelated case involving two toddlers found walking down a street without supervision.

He was arraigned Monday on the DUI charge with a cash bail set at $10,000, according to court records. He did not have an attorney listed in online court documents.

Officials with Webster County Public Schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident or if Wilson remains employed by the district.

Webster County is about 215 miles west of Lexington.